The character 意 relates to meaning; intention. Learn its readings together with whole words and see them in context.

The idea

Kanji may have native Japanese readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn a reading with its word. Learn complete words: 意味 (いみ) means meaning, and 意見 (いけん) means an opinion. 意 has 13 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
意味いみmeaning
意見いけんan opinion
注意ちゅういattention; caution

Examples

  • この言葉ことばの意味いみが分わかりません。I do not understand the meaning of this word.
  • 意味いみを辞書じしょで調しらべます。I look up the meaning in a dictionary.
  • 会議かいぎで自分じぶんの意見いけんを言いいました。I expressed my opinion at the meeting.
  • みんなの意見いけんを聞ききたいです。I would like to hear everyone’s opinion.
  • 道みちを渡わたるときは車くるまに注意ちゅういしてください。Please watch out for cars when crossing the road.
  • この注意ちゅういをよく読よんでください。Please read this warning carefully.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

意見 is an opinion, while 意味 is the meaning of a word or expression; both read 意 as い. Do not guess a word’s reading or meaning from the character alone: compare 意味 and 意見. Also compare the shapes of 意 and 音; they are different characters. Compare the components: 意：音＋心／音.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 意味 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    いみ

    意味 is read いみ and means meaning.

  2. Write the reading of 意見 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    いけん

    意見 is read いけん and means an opinion.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 注＿（ちゅうい）.

    Show answer or example answer

    意

    意 completes 注意, read ちゅうい; the word means attention; caution.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 意 from memory, read 意味 and 意見 aloud, and make a sentence with one of them.