会意 huìyì combined ideogram
combined ideogram (one of the Six Methods 六书 of forming Chinese characters); Chinese character that combines the meanings of existing elements; also known as joint ideogram or associative compound; to comprehend without being told explicitly; to cotton on; knowing (smile, glance etc)
How to remember 会意: 会 can + 意 idea = combined ideogram.
Characters
How it is used
- To grasp the meaning without being told, knowingly - 他会意地一笑 (tā huìyì de yī xiào) he smiled knowingly.
- Everyday sense: catching an unspoken hint (会意的眼神, a knowing look).
- Also a technical term: 会意字 (huìyìzì), the 'combined-meaning' category of Chinese character formation (e.g. 明 = 日+月).