Japanese word

真意

Pronunciation

Romajishin'i

Meaning

  • nountrue intention

Example

彼の真意が分かりません。kare no shin i ga wa ka ri ma se n

I do not understand his true intention.

Illustration for 真意 (true intention)

More examples

彼の発言の裏にある真意を読み取りました。kare no hatsu gen no ura ni a ru shin i o yo mi to ri ma shi ta

I understood his true intention behind the remark.

Core concept

Refers to the real aim or purpose concealed beneath what a person says or does.

Common phrases

  • 真意を明かすshin i o a ka su

    reveal one's true intention

  • 真意を探るshin i o sagu ru

    probe one's true intention

  • 真意をくみ取るshin i o ku mi to ru

    grasp one's true intention

Similar words

本心honshin: A person's genuine thoughts or feelings, especially those not openly shown.
本音honne: A person's honest thoughts or feelings expressed without concealment.
意図ito: The aim that a person consciously has in saying or doing something.
意向ikō: A person's intended course of action or preference.

Definition in Japanese

言葉や態度の背後にある、偽りのない意図。koto ba ya tai do no hai go ni a ru itsuwa ri no na i i to

Word origin

真意 (shin'i, "true intention") is a Sino-Japanese compound formed from 真 (shin, "true") and 意 (i, "intention").

Usage tips

  • English speakers may link intention mainly with a planned action, while 真意 (shin'i) can also describe a person's unspoken purpose in a conversation.

Other meanings

  • true motivenoun
  • true meaningnoun

Word lists with this word