bun2 ji3本意
Jyutpingbun2 ji3
Yalebún yi
Definition
Original intention, purpose, or starting point of an action.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses on the underlying motive or original purpose behind an action, often used to defend someone's character when their actions lead to unintended consequences. It carries a slightly formal or serious tone compared to everyday words like 諗法 or 目的. It is frequently used in discussions about misunderstandings or when clarifying why a decision was made.
Examples
His intention in doing this was to help you, don't misunderstand.
Do you know what his original intention was?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 意思, which usually refers to the meaning of a word or a general idea. While 意思 can be used to mean intention in some contexts, 本意 specifically highlights the initial, underlying purpose or the 'original' intent.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
