<p>It is used when someone uses some pronouns like 这件事 or 那间房子 or else to refer to something, which is not definite enough for the hearer to figure out which entity exactly the speaker is referring to. For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我很欣赏您的那幅作品。 I really appreciate that piece of yours.</p>
  
  <p>您是指（哪一幅）？ Which one exactly are you referring to?</p>
  
  <p>画了三匹马的那幅。 The one of three horses.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>指 usually can mean 'refer to'.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T16:56:52.460Z
2018-01-16T19:29:11.030Z
2018-01-16T19:29:11.030Z
Garlic Xu
<p>I think it could mean either 'what are you referring to' or 'what do you mean' according to the context. </p>

<p>If one doesn't understand the whole thing and need more explanations, it's like saying what do you mean? </p>

<p>If one doesn't understand the specific thing someone else talks about, it will be like saying what are you referring to.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-17T06:31:53.700Z
2018-01-17T06:31:53.700Z
dan
<p>When someone responds to something I've said with「您是指？」is it accurate to assume they're saying:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"What do you mean?" - As in they want me to explain/give more info on something I've just mentioned, so it would be interchangeable with 你的意思是什么</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Or</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"What's that?/come again?/huh?" - More in the sense that the listener is confused or surprised by what I've just said, maybe they want me to make myself a bit clearer because they a bit taken aback by something that I just said.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Or if neither of these are correct assumptions, how would you translate 您是指？in English and what instances could it be used in?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T15:53:34.890Z
Perhaps: What (specifically) are you asking referring to?
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T17:00:48.190Z
您指的是? may be equally common
user6065
<usage><phrase>
Correct usage of 「您是指？」
# Correct usage of 「您是指？」

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-16)

When someone responds to something I've said with「您是指？」is it accurate to assume they're saying:

> "What do you mean?" - As in they want me to explain/give more info on something I've just mentioned, so it would be interchangeable with 你的意思是什么

Or

> "What's that?/come again?/huh?" - More in the sense that the listener is confused or surprised by what I've just said, maybe they want me to make myself a bit clearer because they a bit taken aback by something that I just said.

Or if neither of these are correct assumptions, how would you translate 您是指？in English and what instances could it be used in?

**Tags:** usage, phrase

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Perhaps: What (specifically) are you asking referring to?  
> **username_2**: 您指的是? may be equally common  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-01-16. Score: 3

It is used when someone uses some pronouns like 这件事 or 那间房子 or else to refer to something, which is not definite enough for the hearer to figure out which entity exactly the speaker is referring to. For example:

> 我很欣赏您的那幅作品。 I really appreciate that piece of yours.
>
> 您是指（哪一幅）？ Which one exactly are you referring to?
>
> 画了三匹马的那幅。 The one of three horses.

指 usually can mean 'refer to'.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2018-01-17. Score: 1

I think it could mean either 'what are you referring to' or 'what do you mean' according to the context.

If one doesn't understand the whole thing and need more explanations, it's like saying what do you mean?

If one doesn't understand the specific thing someone else talks about, it will be like saying what are you referring to.


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