original idea · real intention · etymon

běn yì

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Examples4 available

The term "hutong", originally meaning "water well", came from the Mongolian language about 700 years ago.

“胡同”这个词，本意是“水井”，来源于700年前的蒙古语。

That wasn't my intention.

那不是我的本意。

Did you mean to do that?

你的本意是想那样做嗎？

The word you use depends on your intended meaning.

你所说的话取决于你的本意。

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