意(い)

い
noun
intention; will; meaning
formalcognitionlanguage
1. intention; will; feeling one wishes to convey
A formal noun for what a person means or intends. Appears mainly in set phrases of the written language, such as 遺憾(いかん)の意(い) (a sense of regret) and 感謝(かんしゃ)の意(い) (an expression of gratitude).
遺憾(いかん)の意(い)を表明(ひょうめい)する。
To express regret.
皆(みな)さまに感謝(かんしゃ)の意(い)を伝(つた)えたい。
I would like to convey my gratitude to everyone.
会社(かいしゃ)は今回(こんかい)の対応(たいおう)について反省(はんせい)の意(い)を示(しめ)した。
The company indicated its regret over how it handled the matter.
2. meaning; sense (of a word or text)
The meaning behind words, used in formal or literary phrasing such as ~の意(い)で ('in the sense of ~').
この語(ご)は「許(ゆる)す」の意(い)である。
This word has the sense of 'to permit.'
「謹(つつし)んで」は敬意(けいい)を込(こ)める意(い)で使(つか)われる。
'Respectfully' is used in the sense of conveying deference.
この条文(じょうぶん)は、両者(りょうしゃ)の合意(ごうい)を前提(ぜんてい)とする意(い)に解(かい)すべきだ。
This clause should be read in the sense of presupposing agreement between the two parties.

A bound, formal noun that rarely stands alone in conversation. Learners meet it inside fixed expressions rather than as an independent word.

Common expressions

Register: written and formal — press releases, apologies, legal texts. In everyday speech use 気持(きも)ち or 意味(いみ) instead.

Related Words

See also: 意味(いみ) (meaning (everyday word))
general
Added 2026.8.8 3:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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