<p>意 = intention</p>

<p>思 = thought</p>

<p>意思: thought; meaning; intention</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A：“你这是什么(意思)？” --  "What is the (meaning/ intention) of this?"</p>
  
  <p>B：“没什么(意思)，[意思意思]。”  --  "No (meaning) whatsoever,  just my [little expression] 　　</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong><em>意思意思</strong> literally means "<strong>thought, thought</strong>". The full meaning of this phrase is "just a small token that <strong>express</strong> my <strong>thought and feeling</strong>"</em></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A：“你这人真<strong>有意思</strong>。” 　--  "You are really <strong>interesting</strong>"</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong><em>有意思</strong> literally means "<strong>have meaning</strong>" . Logically, people only interesting in something meaningful, therefore, 有意思  (have meaning) also means "interesting/ meaningful" in Chinese</em></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>B：“其实也没有别的(意思)。” 　really  have no other (meaning/ intention)</p>
  
  <p>A：“那我就(不好意思)了。” 　Then I would go ahead and (feel embarrassed)</p>
  
  <p><em>Meaning: Then I would go ahead and make myself feel embarrassed for taking the money</em></p>
  
  <p>B：“是我(不好意思)。” --  "It is I who should (feel embarrassed)"</p>
  
  <p><em>Meaning: I am the one who should feel embarrassed for offering so little, not you who rightfully taking the money</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong><em>不好意思</strong> literally means: 不好 (<strong>not easy to</strong>) 意思 (<strong>thought</strong>) . The full meaning of "不好意思" is  "not easy to express this thought" -- Having embarrassing thought is difficult to express,</em>  </p>

<p>*In short, "不好意思" means "feel embarrassed" or "sorry" * ; "好意思" means "not feel embarrassed" or "not sorry"</p>

<p><em>Example:</em> </p>

<p><em>你還(<strong>好意思</strong>)説 = Yet, you (<strong>don't feel embarrassed</strong>) to say</em></p>

<p><em>我(<strong>不好意思</strong>)説 = I (<strong>feel embarrassed</strong>) to say</em></p>

<p><strong>Summary:</strong></p>

<p>意思: thought; meaning; intention</p>

<p>有意思: meaningful; interesting</p>

<p>意思意思: just a little expression (of thought/ feeling)</p>

<p>不好意思: feel embarrassed/ sorry</p>

<p>好意思: not feel embarrassed/ not sorry</p>

<p><strong>Side note:</strong></p>

<p><em>意思意思 in Cantonese is 小小心意 (literally means "little thought")</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-27T10:39:39.143Z
2018-11-28T00:37:16.260Z
2018-11-28T00:37:16.260Z
Tang Ho
<blockquote>
<p>A: What do you mean? <em>or</em> What do you intend to?</p>
<p>B: Nothing, just a little bit of thank you gift.</p>
<p>A: You are bit of an interesting guy.</p>
<p>B: Do not take it seriously, I have no favour to ask for.</p>
<p>A: Alright, I might better keep this.</p>
<p>B: It is my pleasure.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In Chinese, those words could actually mean</p>
<blockquote>
<p>甲：你这（给我钱）是什么意思？</p>
<p>乙：没什么意思，就是表示一下（感谢）。</p>
<p>甲：你这人还挺懂事的。</p>
<p>乙：我真的没别的意思，还望您笑纳。</p>
<p>甲：那我就腆着脸收下了。</p>
<p>乙：嗨，这是我应该的。</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T02:54:37.350Z
@KacieChen It means 厚着脸皮，thus there is no ambiguity in the sentence.
zyy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-28T15:04:57.570Z
@KacieChen I improved my answer a little bit, especially on the last that B said.
zyy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-27T03:26:36.210Z
2018-11-28T17:14:42.197Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
zyy
<p>In this situation, B gave A (B's leader) some bonus money.</p>

<ul>
<li>A：“你这是什么意思？” 　　'what do you mean?' </li>
<li>B：“没什么意思，意思意思。”'nothing. just .?.' 　　</li>
<li>A：“你这人真有意思。” 　　  ?</li>
<li>B：“其实也没有别的意思。” 　?</li>
<li>A：“那我就不好意思了。” 　　?</li>
<li>B：“是我不好意思。”        ?</li>
</ul>

<translation>
What 意思 means in below?
# What 意思 means in below?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-27)

In this situation, B gave A (B's leader) some bonus money.

* A：“你这是什么意思？” 　　'what do you mean?'
* B：“没什么意思，意思意思。”'nothing. just .?.'
* A：“你这人真有意思。” 　　 ?
* B：“其实也没有别的意思。” 　?
* A：“那我就不好意思了。” 　　?
* B：“是我不好意思。” ?

**Tags:** translation


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-11-27. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

> A: What do you mean? *or* What do you intend to?
>
> B: Nothing, just a little bit of thank you gift.
>
> A: You are bit of an interesting guy.
>
> B: Do not take it seriously, I have no favour to ask for.
>
> A: Alright, I might better keep this.
>
> B: It is my pleasure.

In Chinese, those words could actually mean

> 甲：你这（给我钱）是什么意思？
>
> 乙：没什么意思，就是表示一下（感谢）。
>
> 甲：你这人还挺懂事的。
>
> 乙：我真的没别的意思，还望您笑纳。
>
> 甲：那我就腆着脸收下了。
>
> 乙：嗨，这是我应该的。

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: @KacieChen It means 厚着脸皮，thus there is no ambiguity in the sentence.  
> **username_2**: @KacieChen I improved my answer a little bit, especially on the last that B said.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-27. Score: 2

意 = intention

思 = thought

意思: thought; meaning; intention

> A：“你这是什么(意思)？” -- "What is the (meaning/ intention) of this?"
>
> B：“没什么(意思)，[意思意思]。” -- "No (meaning) whatsoever, just my [little expression]

***意思意思*** literally means "**thought, thought**". The full meaning of this phrase is "just a small token that **express** my **thought and feeling**"

> A：“你这人真**有意思**。” 　-- "You are really **interesting**"

***有意思*** literally means "**have meaning**" . Logically, people only interesting in something meaningful, therefore, 有意思 (have meaning) also means "interesting/ meaningful" in Chinese

> B：“其实也没有别的(意思)。” 　really have no other (meaning/ intention)
>
> A：“那我就(不好意思)了。” 　Then I would go ahead and (feel embarrassed)
>
> *Meaning: Then I would go ahead and make myself feel embarrassed for taking the money*
>
> B：“是我(不好意思)。” -- "It is I who should (feel embarrassed)"
>
> *Meaning: I am the one who should feel embarrassed for offering so little, not you who rightfully taking the money*

***不好意思*** literally means: 不好 (**not easy to**) 意思 (**thought**) . The full meaning of "不好意思" is "not easy to express this thought" -- Having embarrassing thought is difficult to express,

\*In short, "不好意思" means "feel embarrassed" or "sorry" \* ; "好意思" means "not feel embarrassed" or "not sorry"

*Example:*

*你還(**好意思**)説 = Yet, you (**don't feel embarrassed**) to say*

*我(**不好意思**)説 = I (**feel embarrassed**) to say*

**Summary:**

意思: thought; meaning; intention

有意思: meaningful; interesting

意思意思: just a little expression (of thought/ feeling)

不好意思: feel embarrassed/ sorry

好意思: not feel embarrassed/ not sorry

**Side note:**

*意思意思 in Cantonese is 小小心意 (literally means "little thought")*


---

