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主意 (zhǔ yi) — idea; plan; decision

Definition

主意 is a casual everyday noun for an 'idea' or a personal 'mind/decision', as in 拿主意 ('make up one's mind'). It's more concrete and informal than 想法 ('thought, opinion') and less binding than 决定 ('decision').

noun
ideaplandecision
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 主意。
    Wǒ yǒu yí gè hǎo zhǔ yi.
    I have a good idea.
  • 主意。
    Nǐ zuì hǎo zì jǐ ná zhǔ yi.
    You'd better decide for yourself.
  • 主意，。
    Tā gǎi biàn le zhǔ yi, bú qù lǚ xíng le.
    He changed his mind and won't go traveling.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

主zhǔmain
意yìthought

The 主 main 意 thought gives a plan or idea.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsThinking & Cognition2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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