意旨 (yì zhǐ) — intent; intention; will

Definition

意旨 (yìzhǐ) is a formal written term for the 'intent' or 'will' behind a document, law, or directive — more elevated than 意思, which is the everyday word for 'meaning/intention'.

noun
intentintentionwill
Easily confused

Examples

  • 意旨。
    Zhè bù fǎ lǜ de yì zhǐ shì bǎo hù xiāo fèi zhě de quán yì.
    The intent of this law is to protect consumers' rights.
  • 意旨。
    Zhí xíng dǒng shì de yì zhǐ bì xū dé dào gǔ dōng de zhī chí.
    The intent of the executive director must be supported by the shareholders.
  • 意旨。
    Tā shǐ zhōng zūn xún zǔ zhī zuì chū de yì zhǐ xíng shì.
    He always acts in accordance with the organization's original intent.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

意yìintent
旨zhǐpurport

“意” and “旨” both point to meaning or purpose, so together they mean intent.

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
甘甘gāndelicious
Sound part声符shēngfú
匕
匕bǐ旨zhǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

旨 combines 甘, meaning delicious, with 匕, a spoon used to taste food; 匕 also gives the sound.

Open 旨 →

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