意味
いみ
imi
= meaning; significance; sense
Every Japanese learner reaches a moment where they point at a word and ask Kore, imi wa? — “What does this mean?” That question itself contains today’s word: imi (意味), the Japanese word for meaning or significance.
Imi covers a wide range of English senses. At its most basic it translates as “meaning” or “definition,” as in the meaning of a word. It also expresses “significance” or “point,” which is why Japanese speakers say imi ga nai (no point / meaningless) to dismiss something as a waste of time. In casual conversation the word frequently appears as a question tag — imi wakaru? (“Do you get what I mean?”) — making it one of the most conversationally active nouns in everyday Japanese. Formally, imi can also denote the semantic content of a text or symbol, used in academic and professional contexts.
Don’t confuse imi (meaning of a word or situation) with kotoba (word itself) or imi ga aru (meaningful/worthwhile) vs imi ga nai (meaningless/pointless). The phrase donna imi? (“What do you mean exactly?”) is a polite way to ask for clarification without sounding rude — handy when a native speaker says something you almost understood.
意味 combines two kanji. 意 (i) depicts the heart 心 below the sound element 音, evoking “what the heart holds” — intention or feeling. 味 (mi) pairs mouth 口 with an unknown element, originally meaning “to taste” and extending to “flavor” or “what something conveys.” Together they suggest “the flavor that the heart holds,” a fitting image for meaning.
Everyday use
先生の説明を聞いて、その言葉の意味がやっと分かった。
Sensei no setsumei wo kiite, sono kotoba no imi ga yatto wakatta.
After hearing the teacher’s explanation, I finally understood what the word meant.
Casual / Social Media
毎日残業してもボーナスなしじゃ意味ないよね。
Mainichi zangyou shite mo boonasu nashi ja imi nai yo ne.
Working overtime every day with no bonus — what’s even the point?
Formal / Cultural context
この条文の意味について法的な解釈が必要です。
Kono joumon no imi ni tsuite houteki na kaishaku ga hitsuyou desu.
A legal interpretation of the meaning of this clause is required.
Imi ga nai — literally “there is no meaning” — is one of those phrases that reveals how tightly Japanese culture ties effort to purpose. Saying something has imi ga nai is not just a logical statement; it carries an emotional weight of futility, often used when someone feels their work or sacrifice went unrecognized. Conversely, describing an experience as imi ga atta (it had meaning) is a quiet but powerful expression of personal fulfillment.
In language-learning circles in Japan, imi is arguably the first metalinguistic word a beginner picks up, since pointing at something and saying kore no imi wa? is the fastest way to build vocabulary. This makes it a word that learners use before they even realize they’ve learned it — a small linguistic loop that teachers often point out with a smile.