意味(いみ)

いみ
noun, suru verb
meaning, significance
1. meaning, sense
What a word, phrase, or action signifies or represents.
この言葉(ことば)の意味(いみ)は何(なん)ですか。
What is the meaning of this word?
意味(いみ)が分(わ)かりません。
I don't understand the meaning.
辞書(じしょ)で調(しら)べたけど、意味(いみ)がたくさんあって迷(まよ)った。
I looked it up in the dictionary, but there were so many meanings that I got confused.
2. to mean (suru verb)
When used as a suru verb, means 'to mean' or 'to signify.'
それは何(なに)を意味(いみ)しますか。
What does that mean?
Using 意味する as a verb
この記号(きごう)は「注意(ちゅうい)」を意味(いみ)する。
This symbol means 'caution'.
この結果(けっか)は努力(どりょく)が足(た)りなかったことを意味(いみ)している。
This result means that the effort was not enough.

意味(いみ) means 'meaning' or 'significance.' It can function as a noun or as a suru verb (意味(いみ)する = to mean).

COMMON QUESTIONS:

  • 〜は何(なん)の意味(いみ)ですか: What does ~ mean?
  • 〜はどういう意味(いみ)ですか: What does ~ mean? (more natural)
  • この言葉(ことば)の意味(いみ)を教(おし)えてください: Please tell me what this word means.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 意味(いみ)が分(わ)かる: to understand the meaning
  • 意味(いみ)が分(わ)からない: to not understand
  • 意味(いみ)がない: to be meaningless, pointless
  • 意味(いみ)がある: to have meaning, be meaningful
  • 〜という意味(いみ): meaning that ~

VERB USAGE:
意味(いみ)する is more formal/written. In speech, 〜という意味(いみ)だ is more common.

RELATED:

  • 意義(いぎ): significance, meaning (more abstract/formal)
general
Added 2026.1.7 21:16 · Revised 2026.3.6 8:50
01000/01155_imi