Onyomi: イ · Kunyomi: - · Meanings: care, desire, heart, idea, liking, mind, taste, thought
Kanji for care, desire, heart, idea, liking
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The kanji 意 combines the “heart” radical (心) with a component representing “sound” or “thought,” symbolizing feelings and ideas forming in the mind. In ancient times, it represented intention, thought, or mind’s desire. 意 came to mean idea, intention, or thought, capturing thinking, feeling, and purpose.
Heart and thought together — 意 means idea, intention, or mind’s desire.
Imagine your heart guiding your thoughts and intentions — that’s 意, the kanji for idea, intention, and mind.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 意 | い | feelings, thoughts | Noun |
| 意味 | いみ | meaning, significance, sense | common JLPT-N5 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 意志 | いし | will, volition, intention, intent, determination | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 意識 | いしき | consciousness | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Suru verb |
| 思う | おもう | to think, to consider, to believe, to reckon | common JLPT-N4 Godan verb with 'u' ending, Transitive verb |
| 意見 | いけん | opinion, view, comment | common JLPT-N4 Noun |
| 意思 | いし | intention, wish, purpose, mind (to do) | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 意外 | いがい | unexpected, surprising | common JLPT-N3 Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Adverb taking the 'to' particle, Noun |
| 意義 | いぎ | meaning, significance | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 意地悪 | いじわる | malicious, ill-tempered, unkind, mean, nasty | common JLPT-N2 Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |