Writing
本意 (běn yì) — how to say "original meaning" in Chinese
本意
Original meaning
noun
Character composition
本
root, origin
意
meaning, intention
Radicals / Keys
心
Heart
#61 · xīn · 4 strokes
木
Tree
#75 · mù · 4 strokes
Collocations
违背本意
wéi bèi běn yì
to go against one's original intention
词语的本意
cí yǔ de běn yì
the original meaning of a word
Examples
这个词的本意和现在的用法不同。
The original meaning of this word differs from its current usage.
这是我的本意。
This is my original intention.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say "original meaning" in Chinese?
"original meaning" in Chinese is 本意 (běn yì).
What does 本意 mean in English?
本意 (běn yì) means "Original meaning".
How is 本意 pronounced?
It is pronounced běn yì (written as ben yi, benyi). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How do you write "original meaning" in Chinese characters?
It is written 本意: 本 has 5 strokes, 意 has 13 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order of each character and lets you trace it.
What HSK 3.0 level is 本意?
本意 is on the HSK 3.0 levels 7–9 word list. It is not part of the six-level HSK 2.0 lists.
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