Difference between revisions of "Comparing "yisi" and "yiyi""
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| − | 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 | + | 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 in a wide range of set phrases. 意思 is broader in range of meaning, whereas 意义 is used in formal settings in less colloquial ways. |
{{SimilarWordsCol1|意思|yìsi|meaning|noun|informal}} | {{SimilarWordsCol1|意思|yìsi|meaning|noun|informal}} | ||
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== 意思 and 意义 both mean "meaning" and are sometimes roughly interchangeable == | == 意思 and 意义 both mean "meaning" and are sometimes roughly interchangeable == | ||
| − | Note that using | + | Note that using 意思 sounds more casual, and using 意义 sounds more serious in the following examples. |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 你 这样 做 有 什么 <em>意思</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhèyàng zuò yǒu shénme <em>yìsi</em>?</span><span class="trans"> | + | * 你 这样 做 有 什么 <em>意思</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhèyàng zuò yǒu shénme <em>yìsi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Is there any meaning in doing this?</span> |
* 你 能 不 能 解释 一下 这句 话 的 <em>意思</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng bù néng jiěshì yīxià zhè jù huà de <em>yìsi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Can you explain the meaning of this statement?</span> | * 你 能 不 能 解释 一下 这句 话 的 <em>意思</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng bù néng jiěshì yīxià zhè jù huà de <em>yìsi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Can you explain the meaning of this statement?</span> | ||
| − | * 你 做 这件 事 的 <em>意义</em> 是 什么？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò zhè jiàn shì de <em>yìyì</em> shì shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is the point of you doing | + | * 你 做 这件 事 的 <em>意义</em> 是 什么？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò zhè jiàn shì de <em>yìyì</em> shì shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is the point of you doing this?</span> |
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</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju dapei"> | <div class="liju dapei"> | ||
* 有 <em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">yǒu <em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">interesting</span> | * 有 <em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">yǒu <em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">interesting</span> | ||
| − | * 没 <em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">méi <em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans"> | + | * 没 <em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">méi <em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">uninteresting, boring</span> |
| − | * | + | * 不好<em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">bùhǎo<em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">embarrassed, "sorry"</span> |
| − | * <em> | + | * <em>意思 意思</em><span class="pinyin"><em>yìsi yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">"just a small gift"</span> |
| − | * 明白（你的）<em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">míngbai (nǐ de) <em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">I know what you mean</span> | + | * 明白（你的）<em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">míngbai (nǐ de) <em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">I know what (you) mean</span> |
| − | * 什么 <em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">shénme <em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">what do you mean</span> | + | * 什么 <em>意思</em><span class="pinyin">shénme <em>yìsi</em></span><span class="trans">what do you mean, what does that mean</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
* 学 中文 很 <strong>有</strong> <em>意思</em>，但是 有点 难。<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén hěn <strong>yǒu</strong> <em>yìsi</em>, dànshì yǒudiǎn nán.</span><span class="trans">Learning Chinese is fun, but a bit hard.</span> | * 学 中文 很 <strong>有</strong> <em>意思</em>，但是 有点 难。<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén hěn <strong>yǒu</strong> <em>yìsi</em>, dànshì yǒudiǎn nán.</span><span class="trans">Learning Chinese is fun, but a bit hard.</span> | ||
| − | * 这个 游戏 <strong>没</strong> <em>意思</em>，我 不 想 玩 了。<span class="pinyin">Zhège yóuxì <strong>méi</strong> <em>yìsi</em>, wǒ bù xiǎng wán le.</span><span class="trans">This game is | + | * 这个 游戏 <strong>没</strong> <em>意思</em>，我 不 想 玩 了。<span class="pinyin">Zhège yóuxì <strong>méi</strong> <em>yìsi</em>, wǒ bù xiǎng wán le.</span><span class="trans">This game is boring. I don't want to play it.</span> |
| − | * <strong> | + | * <strong>不好</strong><em>意思</em>，我 又 迟到 了。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Bùhǎo</strong><em>yìsi</em>, wǒ yòu chídào le.</span><span class="trans">Sorry, I'm late again.</span> |
| − | * 你 的 女朋友 要 过 生日 了，你 是 不 是 应该 <em>意思意思</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de nǚpéngyou yào guò shēngrì le, nǐ shì bù shì yīnggāi <em>yìsiyìsi</em>？</span><span class="trans">Your girlfriend's birthday is coming up | + | * 你 的 女朋友 要 过 生日 了，你 是 不 是 应该 <em>意思意思</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de nǚpéngyou yào guò shēngrì le, nǐ shì bù shì yīnggāi <em>yìsiyìsi</em>？</span><span class="trans">Your girlfriend's birthday is coming up. Shouldn't you give her a little something?</span> |
| − | * 我 | + | * 我 不太 <strong>明白</strong> 你的 <em>意思</em>，你 可以 解释 一下 吗？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bùtài <strong>míngbai</strong> nǐ de <em>yìsi</em>, nǐ kěyǐ jiěshì yīxià ma?</span><span class="trans">I don't quite understand what you mean, can you explain?</span> |
| − | * 这 句 中文 是 <strong>什么</strong> <em>意思</em>？<span class="pinyin">Zhè jù Zhōngwén shì <strong>shénme</strong> <em>yìsi</em>？</span><span class="trans">What does this Chinese | + | * 这 句 中文 是 <strong>什么</strong> <em>意思</em>？<span class="pinyin">Zhè jù Zhōngwén shì <strong>shénme</strong> <em>yìsi</em>？</span><span class="trans">What does this Chinese sentence mean?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju dapei"> | <div class="liju dapei"> | ||
* 人生 的 <em>意义</em><span class="pinyin">rénshēng de <em>yìyì</em></span><span class="trans">the meaning of life</span> | * 人生 的 <em>意义</em><span class="pinyin">rénshēng de <em>yìyì</em></span><span class="trans">the meaning of life</span> | ||
| − | * 没有 <em>意义</em><span class="pinyin">méiyǒu <em>yìyì</em></span><span class="trans"> | + | * 没有 <em>意义</em><span class="pinyin">méiyǒu <em>yìyì</em></span><span class="trans">meaningless</span> |
| + | * 毫无 <em>意义</em><span class="pinyin">háowú <em>yìyì</em></span><span class="trans">utterly meaningless</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
* 你 觉得 <strong>人生 的</strong> <em>意义</em> 是 什么？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ juéde <strong>rénshēng de</strong> <em>yìyì</em> shì shénme?</span><span class="trans">What do you think is the meaning of life?</span> | * 你 觉得 <strong>人生 的</strong> <em>意义</em> 是 什么？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ juéde <strong>rénshēng de</strong> <em>yìyì</em> shì shénme?</span><span class="trans">What do you think is the meaning of life?</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 | + | * 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 | + | * 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 find most meetings meaningless.</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 | + | * 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 feels this trip was very meaningful.</span> |
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</div> | </div> | ||
Latest revision as of 04:26, 3 May 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 in a wide range of set phrases. 意思 is broader in range of meaning, 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？Is there any meaning in doing 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 this?
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uninteresting, boring
- 不好意思embarrassed, "sorry"
- 意思 意思"just a small gift"
- 明白（你的）意思I know what (you) mean
- 什么 意思what do you mean, what does that 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 boring. 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 you give her a little something?
- 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 sentence 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meaningless
- 毫无 意义utterly meaningless
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 find most meetings meaningless.
- 大家 都 觉得 这次 旅行 很 有 意义。Everyone feels this trip was very meaningful.
