Dictionary › 本意

本意

běn yì

2-character word

What 本意 means

1. original idea
2. real intention
3. etymon

The characters in 本意

• 本běn(bound form) root; stem; (bound form) origin; source; (bound form) one's own; this
• 意yì(bound form) idea; thought; meaning; sense; (bound form) intention; feeling; inclination…

Example sentences

• 那不是我的本意。
  Nà bù shì wǒ de běnyì.
  That wasn't my intention.
• 自私不是我的本意。
  Zìsī bù shì wǒ de běnyì.
  I didn't mean to be selfish.

Sounds the same

Read běn yì, tone for tone, but written differently.

• 本义original meaning; literal sense