Chinese word

意愿

Pronunciation

Pinyinyì yuàn

Meaning

  • nounwillingness

Example

公司有意愿修改合同吗？gōng sī yǒu yì yuàn xiū gǎi hé tóng ma

Is the company willing to modify the contract?

Illustration for 意愿 (willingness)

More examples

他在电话里表达了推迟交货的意愿。tā zài diàn huà lǐ biǎo dá le tuī chí jiāo huò de yì yuàn

He expressed his willingness to postpone delivery on the phone.

Core concept

An inner wish or intention that points toward taking a particular action.

Common phrases

  • 有意愿yǒu yì yuàn

    be willing

  • 表达意愿biǎo dá yì yuàn

    express willingness

  • 征求意愿zhēng qiú yì yuàn

    ask about willingness

Similar words

意向yì xiàng: A wish or preference about what to do in the future.
意图yì tú: A clear purpose for carrying out an action.
打算dǎ suàn: A decision or plan about whether and how to do something.
计划jì huà: A concrete plan for carrying out an action, with its timing or steps worked out.

Definition in Chinese

表示内心的希望或意向，常用于正式或书面语，作为名词常与“有”“表达”等动词搭配，表示是否愿意采取某种行为。biǎo shì nèi xīn de xī wàng huò yì xiàng cháng yòng yú zhèng shì huò shū miàn yǔ zuò wéi míng cí cháng yǔ yǒu biǎo dá děng dòng cí dā pèi biǎo shì shì fǒu yuàn yì cái qǔ móu zhǒng xíng wéi

Word origin

意愿 (yìyuàn, "willingness") combines 意 (yì, "thought or intention") with 愿 (yuàn, "wish or willingness"), joining an inner aim with a wish to act.

Usage tips

  • Everyday Chinese often uses a verb phrase instead of a noun when asking whether someone wants to act, so direct questions usually sound more natural with a verb.

Other meanings

  • desirenoun
  • intentionnoun

Word lists with this word