意 means “meaning, intention”

い · i

Also: idea, mind, heart, taste

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

イ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 13 strokes

The story

A sound (音) rising from the heart (心): the inner voice before it becomes words. Every sentence you decode asks the same question: what is its 意味, the meaning carried on that voice?

Used in 意味 (imi, meaning), 注意 (chuui, caution/attention), and 意見 (iken, opinion)

More from Scholar's Path

• 強 strong
• 説 explain
• 研 polish
• 究 research
• 質 quality
• 験 test
• 英 English
• 勉 effort
• 漢 China

Learn 意 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.