意味着 (yì wèi zhe) — to mean, to signify, to imply | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Used when one fact naturally leads to or signals another conclusion ('X means Y'). 表示 expresses or shows something directly; 隐含 is when meaning is hidden and must be inferred.

verb

to meanto signifyto imply

Examples

意味着。
Zhè ge jié guǒ yì wèi zhe wǒ men chéng gōng le.
This result means we have succeeded.
意味着？
Tā de huà yì wèi zhe shén me?
What does his words imply?
意味着。
Hóng sè cháng cháng yì wèi zhe wēi xiǎn.
Red often signifies danger.

Origin

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

口未味

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.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 著; 着 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

者

者zhě著zháo

Same sound today

The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

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