Difference between revisions of "Comparing "yisi" and "yiyi""
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* 有的人 认为 <strong>人生</strong> <strong>没有</strong> <em>意义</em>，你 呢？<span class="pinyin">Yǒuderén rènwéi rénshēng <strong>méiyǒu</strong> <em>yìyì</em>, nǐ ne?</span><span class="trans">Some people think life has no meaning, do you?</span> | * 有的人 认为 <strong>人生</strong> <strong>没有</strong> <em>意义</em>，你 呢？<span class="pinyin">Yǒuderén rènwéi rénshēng <strong>méiyǒu</strong> <em>yìyì</em>, nǐ ne?</span><span class="trans">Some people think life has no meaning, do you?</span> | ||
* 我 觉得 大 部分 会议 都 <strong>没有</strong> <em>意义</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde dà bùfen huìyì dōu <strong>méiyǒu</strong> <em>yìyì</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't find most of the meetings meaningful.</span> | * 我 觉得 大 部分 会议 都 <strong>没有</strong> <em>意义</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde dà bùfen huìyì dōu <strong>méiyǒu</strong> <em>yìyì</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't find most of the meetings meaningful.</span> | ||
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* 大家 都 觉得 这次 旅行 很 有 <em>意义</em>。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu juéde zhècì lǚxíng hěn yǒu <em>yìyì</em>.</span><span class="trans">Everyone thought the trip was meaningful.</span> | * 大家 都 觉得 这次 旅行 很 有 <em>意义</em>。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu juéde zhècì lǚxíng hěn yǒu <em>yìyì</em>.</span><span class="trans">Everyone thought the trip was meaningful.</span> | ||
* 我 觉得 这样 做 <strong>没有</strong> <em>意义</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhèyàng zuò <strong>méiyǒu</strong> <em>yìyì</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't think it makes sense to do it.</span> | * 我 觉得 这样 做 <strong>没有</strong> <em>意义</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhèyàng zuò <strong>méiyǒu</strong> <em>yìyì</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't think it makes sense to do it.</span> | ||
Revision as of 09:15, 29 April 2022
意思 (yìsi) and 意义 (yìyì) are both nouns that mean "meaning," but with different nuances. 意思 is used in informal situations and a wide range of set phrases and is broader in range, whereas 意义 is used in formal settings in less colloquial ways.
| 意思 (yìsi) | 意义 (yìyì) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | meaning | value, significance |
| Part of Speech | noun | noun |
| Formality | informal | formal |
Contents
意思 and 意义 both mean "meaning" and are sometimes roughly interchangeable
Note that using 意思sounds more casual, and using 意义 sounds more serious in the following examples.
- 你 这样 做 有 什么 意思？What do you mean by this?
- 你 能 不 能 解释 一下 这句 话 的 意思？Can you explain the meaning of this statement?
- 你 做 这件 事 的 意义 是 什么？What is the point of you doing it?
意思 is used in a wide array of colloquial expressions
意思 can mean "meaning," but it can also indicate interestingness and other feelings.
Common Phrases
- 有 意思interesting
- 没 意思 not interesting
- 不 好 意思sorry
- 意思意思to give a gift
- 明白（你的）意思I know what you mean
- 什么 意思what do you mean
Examples Sentences
- 学 中文 很 有 意思，但是 有点 难。Learning Chinese is fun, but a bit hard.
- 这个 游戏 没 意思，我 不 想 玩 了。This game is not interesting, I don't want to play it.
- 不 好 意思，我 又 迟到 了。Sorry I'm late again.
- 你 的 女朋友 要 过 生日 了，你 是 不 是 应该 意思意思？Your girlfriend's birthday is coming up, shouldn't give her a gift?
- 我 不 太 明白 你 的 意思，你 可以 解释 一下 吗？I don't quite understand what you mean, can you explain?
- 这 句 中文 是 什么 意思？What does this Chinese phrase mean?
意义 means "significance" in a serious way
意义 is much more focused and narrow. 没有意义 is, quite straightforwardly, "meaningless." You won't typically say something you don't mean with 意义 (although your conversations are likely to be much more serious).
Common Phrases
- 人生 的 意义the meaning of life
- 没有 意义no meaning
Examples Sentences
- 你 觉得 人生 的 意义 是 什么？What do you think is the meaning of life?
- 有的人 认为 人生 没有 意义，你 呢？Some people think life has no meaning, do you?
- 我 觉得 大 部分 会议 都 没有 意义。I don't find most of the meetings meaningful.
- 大家 都 觉得 这次 旅行 很 有 意义。Everyone thought the trip was meaningful.
- 我 觉得 这样 做 没有 意义。I don't think it makes sense to do it.
