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意味 (yì wèi) — meaning (of words, expressions, etc.); implication; hidden significance

Definition

A more literary noun than 意思: 'implication / deeper significance' rather than a simple definition. Closer to 含义 and 寓意 in pointing beyond surface meaning, but 寓意 specifically marks the moral of a story.

noun
meaning (of words, expressions, etc.)implicationhidden significance

Examples

  • 意味。
    Zhè ge cí de yì wèi hěn shēn.
    The meaning of this word is very deep.
  • 意味。
    Tā de huà lǐ yǒu fěng cì de yì wèi.
    His words carry a sarcastic implication.
  • 意味。
    Zhè ge jué dìng yǒu zhòng yào de yì wèi.
    This decision has important implications.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

意yìmeaning
味wèiflavor

意 and 味 together give the sense or flavor of something.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
未
未wèi味wèi
Same sound today

味 combines 口 (mouth) with 未, which gives the sound wèi; the mouth part relates to taste.

Open 味 →
Appears in
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