Meaning of 有意思
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- interesting
- meaningful
- enjoyable
- fun
How to use 有意思
有意思 is a very common everyday word for describing books, movies, people, or ideas. It works like an adjective and often follows 很 (hěn) or 真 (zhēn). Example: 这本书很有意思。(Zhè běn shū hěn yǒu yìsi.) This book is very interesting.
有意思 is literally 有 (yǒu) "to have" plus 意思 (yìsi) "meaning." Something that has meaning is worth your attention, so it is interesting or fun.
Common mistake: Learners often pronounce 思 here with a full second tone or first tone. In 意思 it is usually neutral and light: yìsi. Also, the opposite is 没意思 (méi yìsi) or 没有意思, not 不有意思.
有意思 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
有 yǒu · to have · 6 strokes
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意 yì · thought · 13 strokes
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思 sī · to think · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 有意思.
| 没有 | méiyǒu | haven't; hasn't |
| 还有 | hái yǒu | there still remain(s); there is (or are) still; in addition |
| 有些 | yǒuxiē | some; somewhat; rather; a bit |
| 有时 | yǒushí | sometimes; now and then |
| 有时候 | yǒushíhou | sometimes |
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | useful |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous; well-known |
| 有的 | yǒude | (there are) some (who are...); some (exist) |
| 有一些 | yǒuyīxiē | somewhat; rather |
| 所有 | suǒyǒu | all; to have; to possess; to own |
| 有人 | yǒu rén | someone; people |
| 意思 | yìsi | idea; opinion |
Questions about 有意思
What does 有意思 mean?
有意思 (yǒu yìsi) means "interesting; meaningful".
How do you write 有意思?
有意思 is made of 3 characters: 有 (6 strokes), 意 (13 strokes), 思 (9 strokes). That is 28 strokes in total.
Is 有意思 an HSK word?
Yes. 有意思 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 有意思 and 有趣?
Both mean interesting. 有意思 is more common in casual speech and can also mean meaningful. 有趣 (yǒuqù) leans toward amusing or fun and sounds a little more written.
Can 有意思 have a negative or sarcastic meaning?
Yes. Said with a certain tone, 你这个人真有意思 can mean "you are quite something," showing surprise or mild annoyance. In some contexts, 有意思 can also hint that someone is romantically interested, as in 他对你有意思。