Chinese word

意图

Pronunciation

Pinyinyì tú

Meaning

  • nounintention

Example

他的意图是帮助你。tā de yì tú shì bāng zhù nǐ

His intention is to help you.

Illustration for 意图 (intention)

More examples

我们需要弄清他们的真实意图。wǒ men xū yào nòng qīng tā men de zhēn shí yì tú

We need to figure out their true intention.

Core concept

A plan held in the mind that points an action toward a chosen goal.

Common phrases

  • 表达意图biǎo dá yì tú

    express an intention

  • 隐藏意图yǐn cáng yì tú

    hide an intention

  • 真实意图zhēn shí yì tú

    true intention

Similar words

意向yì xiàng: A person's or group's wish or tendency to take a certain action or make a certain decision.
目的mù dì: The purpose or end that an action is meant to serve.
计划jì huà: A practical plan that sets out the steps and methods for carrying something out.
目标mù biāo: A concrete target or standard used to measure what someone aims to achieve.

Definition in Chinese

心里想做某事的念头或计划，常指为达到某个目的而打算采取的做法。xīn lǐ xiǎng zuò mǒu shì de niàn tou huò jì huà cháng zhǐ wèi dá dào mǒu gè mù dì ér dǎ suàn cái qǔ de zuò fǎ

Word origin

意 (yì, "thought") + 图 (tú, "plan") forms a word for a plan held in thought, with 图 extending from a drawing or map to a plan.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 意图 (yìtú, "intention") often pairs with verbs such as reveal, state, or infer, which helps distinguish a stated plan from one inferred from behavior.

Other meanings

  • purposenoun
  • aimnoun

Word lists with this word