jyun4 ji3原意
Jyutpingjyun4 ji3
Yaleyùhn yi
Definition
Original intention or meaning, often referred to after being misunderstood.
- original intention; original thought
- original meaning of a word
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Focuses on clarifying a misunderstanding or justifying an action that was perceived negatively by others. It is frequently used in defensive or explanatory contexts when someone needs to set the record straight about their true motives. Unlike formal written Chinese, it is often paired with 嘅 to soften the tone when explaining oneself.
Examples
My original intention was to help you, but who knew it would turn out like this.
Related words
Common phrases
misunderstand the original intention
explain the original intention
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 本身, which refers to the inherent state or nature of something rather than a person's specific intent or purpose.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
