Thought and intention with 意
意 means thought , intention , or meaning . It often points to the thought or purpose behind someone’s words and actions.
Etymology
意 combines 心 (heart ) with 音 (sound ).
Ability 得意 (Specialty)
得意(とくい) describes something you are good at. It can also mean feeling proud or pleased with yourself.
It combines 得 (gain ) with 意 (mind ) to show a state in which one feels confident through what one has mastered.
Kanji Explanation: Becoming and accomplishing with 成 (Future entry)
からかい上手の（元）高木さん » Volume 13 » Page 44Yukari stops by the preschool where Mina works, just as Takagi is there picking up her daughter. Yukari compares her life with theirs.
ユカリ: 「高木(たかぎ) ちゃんは成績(せいせき) よくて しっかりしてたし、」“Takagi-chan got good grades and had it together.”「ミナは料理(りょうり) が得意(とくい) “And Mina's good at cooking and such, right?” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
Which strengths does Yukari assign to Takagi and Mina? Clues 高木(たかぎ) ちゃんは成績(せいせき) よくてTakagi got good grades しっかりしてた was dependable or had it together ミナは料理(りょうり) が得意(とくい) Mina is good at cooking What does the speaker mean? Takagi had good grades and was dependable; Mina is good at cooking. Yukari links 成績(せいせき) よくて and しっかりしてた to Takagi, then gives 料理(りょうり) が得意(とくい) as Mina's strength. Takagi was good at cooking; Mina had good grades. This swaps the qualities assigned to the two women. Both Takagi and Mina were known mainly for good grades. Only Takagi is described with 成績(せいせき) . Mina's example is cooking. Both women were good cooks but unreliable students. Yukari calls Takagi dependable and gives cooking as Mina's skill. Takagi struggled in school while Mina helped her study. 成績(せいせき) よくて is positive, and no help with studying is mentioned. Yukari says neither woman had a useful strength. The lines list positive qualities as Yukari compares herself with them.
Yukari remembers Takagi as academically strong and dependable. She then points to cooking as one of Mina’s strengths.
View Full Example Awareness 意識 (Consciousness)
意識(いしき) can mean consciousness, awareness, or the act of keeping something in mind.
It combines 意 (mind ) with 識 (awareness ) to show mental awareness .
Grammar Explanation: Receptive verbs with 〜れる (Future entry)
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 52After an accidental first meeting between Cocoa and Syaro, Chino recalls having seen a similar situation in a comic. Rize points out this is where romance often develops. Apart from that conversation, Syaro notices Cocoa looking at her.
シャロ: 「なんか意識(いしき) “I think I'm being noticed!” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What does シャロ mean in the highlighted line? Clues 意識(いしき) されてる(意識:いしき)されてる means being noticed or kept in mind What does the speaker mean? I think I'm being noticed! The literal "being consciously regarded" becomes "being noticed" because Syaro senses that the unknown girl is paying special attention to her. Syaro says she is paying special attention to Cocoa. The highlighted form is 意識(いしき) されてる. Here 意識(いしき) されてる means being noticed or kept in mind, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Syaro says she wants the stranger to notice her. The highlighted form is 意識(いしき) されてる. Here 意識(いしき) されてる means being noticed or kept in mind, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Syaro is certain that the stranger is ignoring her. The highlighted form is 意識(いしき) されてる. Here 意識(いしき) されてる means being noticed or kept in mind, so this choice does not match the Japanese.
意識(いしき) されてる means being noticed or kept in mind. The literal “being consciously regarded” becomes “being noticed” because Syaro senses that the unknown girl is paying special attention to her.
View Full Example Ideas 意味 (Meaning)
意味(いみ) is the meaning or point of a word, statement, action, or event.
It combines 意 (idea ) with 味 (taste ) to show the flavor of an idea , that is, its meaning.
Grammar Explanation: Coming to for a purpose with 〜に来る (Future entry)
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 61Syaro tries to find out who’s responsible for Chiya and the others visiting her workplace.
シャロ: 「大体(だいたい) こんなチラシで勘違(かんちが) いしたの誰(だれ) 」“Who misunderstood this flyer in the first place?” ココア: 「私(わたし) たちシャロちゃんに会(あ) いに来(き) ただけだよ？」“We just came to see you, Sharo-chan.” チノ: 「いかがわしいってどういう意味(いみ) “What does “shady” mean?” リゼ: 「こんなことだろうと思(おも) った」“I figured it was something like this.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What does ココア mean in the highlighted line? Clues 会(あ) いに来(き) た(会:あ)いに(来:き)た states the purpose of coming What does the speaker mean? We just came to see you, Sharo-chan. 会(あ) う becomes the stem 会(あ) い before purpose marker に and movement verb 来(く) る. Cocoa says they came because of the misleading flyer. The highlighted form is 会(あ) いに来(き) た. Here 会(あ) いに来(き) た states the purpose of coming, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Cocoa says they came to meet Chino rather than Syaro. The highlighted form is 会(あ) いに来(き) た. Here 会(あ) いに来(き) た states the purpose of coming, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Cocoa says they came to buy something from a shady shop. The highlighted form is 会(あ) いに来(き) た. Here 会(あ) いに来(き) た states the purpose of coming, so this choice does not match the Japanese.
会(あ) いに来(き) た states the purpose of coming. 会(あ) う becomes the stem 会(あ) い before purpose marker に and movement verb 来(く) る.
View Full Example Preparation 用意 (Preparation)
用意(ようい) means getting what you need ready or making arrangements in advance.
It combines 用 (practical need ) with 意 (mind ) to show thinking ahead for use .
Kanji Explanation: Lowness and decline with 低 (Future entry)
よつばと！ » Volume 1 » Page 13Jumbo helps his friend Yousuke move into his new house. After unboxing things, Yousuke stops for a break.
葉介(ようすけ) :「なんか俺(おれ) 体力(たいりょく) 低下(ていか) してんなあ… 手(て) がふるふる…」“Man, I feel like my stamina is dropping... My hands are shaking...” ジャンボ: 「おまえさ 近所(きんじょ) にあいさつで配(くば) る粗品(そしな) とか用意(ようい) “Hey, are you preparing any little gifts to hand out to your neighbors when you go around saying hello?” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What change does Yousuke notice after moving boxes? Clues 体力(たいりょく) 低下(ていか) してんなあhe feels that his stamina is declining 手(て) がふるふるhis trembling hands show the physical fatigue What does the speaker mean? His stamina has dropped and his hands are trembling. 体力(たいりょく) 低下(ていか) names the decline, and 手(て) がふるふる gives the physical sign he notices. His hands have become stronger from carrying boxes. The trembling supports a loss of stamina, not an increase in strength. His body temperature has fallen. 低下(ていか) modifies 体力(たいりょく) , stamina, rather than temperature. He has recovered enough to keep working without rest. Yousuke stops for a break and comments on declining stamina. He is not announcing a recovery. His neighbor is tired from preparing gifts. Yousuke speaks about 俺(おれ) , himself, before Jumbo changes the subject to neighbor gifts. His hands are shaking because the room is cold. The line links the trembling to physical exertion and reduced stamina, not cold weather.
Yousuke realizes that moving boxes has worn him out more than expected. He calls it a drop in stamina and points to his trembling hands as evidence.
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