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意

On'yomi
イ
I

idea · mind · heart · taste · thought · desire · care · liking

Details

Strokes13
Frequency#99
Radical心heart(4)

Stroke Order

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Strokes13

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of sound (音) and heart (心). Voice of the heart, intention.

Symbolism

Will, meaning, consciousness. Represents mental power in 'enthusiasm'.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • — Sticking to one's will

Component Breakdown

意=
音心

sound + heart

Words & Expressions

Words written with 意

随意ずいいfree
悪意あくいspite
不意ふいsudden
意見いけんopinion
好意こういkindness
意識的いしきてきdeliberate

Four-Character Compounds

意気軒昂

いきけんこう

in high spirits; elated

意気消沈

いきしょうちん

low spirits; depression; dejection

意気阻喪

いきそそう

depressed in spirits; rejection; disheartened

意気投合

いきとうごう

hit it off with (a person); find a kindred spirit in (a person); sympathy

意志薄弱

いしはくじゃく

weak-willed; lacking a purpose; lacking will power to be patient, purposeful, or resolute

意思表示

いしひょうじ

expressing one's feelings; communicating one's intention; declaration of intent

意馬心猿

いばしんえん

it is hard to keep one's worldly desires and passions in check

意味深長

いみしんちょう

with profound (and often hidden) meaning; pregnant with significance; meaningful

一意専心

いちいせんしん

single-mindedly; wholeheartedly; with all one's heart

誠心誠意

せいしんせいい

in all sincerity; with one's whole heart; whole-hearted devotion

当意即妙

とういそくみょう

ready wit; repartee

用意周到

よういしゅうとう

very careful; thoroughly prepared

意気揚々

いきようよう

triumphant; exultant; in high and proud spirits

上意下達

じょういかたつ

conveying the will of the governing to the governed; top-down (system)

下意上達

かいじょうたつ

conveyance of the views of those below to those at the top

情意投合

じょういとうごう

(coincidence of) mutual sentiment; sharing the same sentiment with someone; finding oneself on the same wavelength as someone

意気衝天

いきしょうてん

in high spirits

得意満面

とくいまんめん

triumphant air; smugness

潜在意識

せんざいいしき

subconsciousness; the subconscious

意匠惨憺

いしょうさんたん

taxing one's ingenuity in devising something; agonizing over designing or creating something; making strenuous efforts to devise good ways and means to do something

心猿意馬

しんえんいば

(being unable to control) one's worldly desires and passions

創意工夫

そういくふう

ingenuity; inventiveness; creative originality

意識朦朧

いしきもうろう

being in a hazy state; being only half conscious; feeling dopey

意志堅固

いしけんご

strong determination; strong-willed; having strong will power

意趣遺恨

いしゅいこん

grudge; spite; malice

戦意喪失

せんいそうしつ

loss of fighting spirit; losing the will to fight

専心一意

せんしんいちい

single-mindedly; wholeheartedly; with one's heart and soul

失意泰然

しついたいぜん

keeping calm and collected at times of disappointment; maintaining a serene state of mind in adversity

如意宝珠

にょいほうじゅ

Cintamani stone; wish-fulfilling jewel

Proverbs & Idioms

意気地なし

いくじなし

Spineless

Lacking courage or determination

Anime & Manga

勇者になれなかった俺はしぶしぶ就職を決意しました。

I Couldn’t Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job.

Anime

A well-known work with 意 in its Japanese title.

とらドラ! 弁当の極意

Toradora!: Bento Battle

Anime

A well-known work with 意 in its Japanese title.

劇場版 NARUTO -ナルト- 疾風伝 火の意志を継ぐ者

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire

Anime

A well-known work with 意 in its Japanese title.

追放されたチート付与魔術師は気ままなセカンドライフを謳歌する。 ~俺は武器だけじゃなく、あらゆるものに『強化ポイント』を付与できるし、俺の意思でいつでも効果を解除できるけど、残った人たち大丈夫?~

The Laid-Off Cheat-Granting Mage Enjoys a Second Lease on Life

Anime

A well-known work with 意 in its Japanese title.

親愛なる僕へ殺意をこめて

My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought

Manga

A well-known work with 意 in its Japanese title.

Related Figures & Stories

浅井了意

Asai Ryōi1612–1691

Name contains 意

Asai Ryōi was a Japanese writer in the early Edo period.

Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 意 mean in Japanese?

意 means idea, mind, heart, taste, thought, desire, care, liking.

How do you read 意?

On'yomi: イ (I).

How many strokes does 意 have?

意 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 心 (heart).

Is 意 a good kanji for a tattoo?

意 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means idea, mind, heart, taste, thought, desire, care, liking. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.

Explore by meaning:idea · mind · heart · taste · thought · desire · care