介意 jièyì to care about
to care about; to take offense; to mind
How to remember 介意: 介 between + 意 idea = to care about.
Characters
How it is used
- To mind / take offense - usually in questions and negatives - 你介意我抽烟吗?(nǐ jièyì wǒ chōuyān ma?) do you mind if I smoke?
- Very common polite formula: 不介意 (don't mind), 请别介意 (please don't take offense).
- Note it takes the thing minded directly (介意+clause), unlike English 'mind' needing 'if'.
Example sentences
- 你介意跟我一起来吗？ Nǐ jièyì gēn wǒ yī qǐlái ma?Would you mind coming with me?
- 您介不介意我把灯关了？ Nín jiè bújièyì wǒ bǎ dēngguān le?Do you mind if I turn off the light?
- 你介意我开窗吗？ Nǐ jièyì wǒ kāichuāng ma?Do you mind if I open the window?