という意味 — Meaning / That means
Used to explain the meaning of a word, phrase, or concept. "Which means / that means / the meaning of X is."
Structure
[Word/Phrase] + という意味(です)
Examples
「雨降り」という意味がわかりますか？
"Amefuri" to iu imi ga wakarimasu ka?
Do you understand the meaning of "amefuri" (rainfall)?
という意味 = the meaning of that expression
「お疲れ様」は「よく頑張りました」という意味です。
"Otsukaresama" wa "yoku ganbarimashita" to iu imi desu.
"Otsukaresama" means "you worked hard."
X は Y という意味 = X means Y
「すみません」には「ありがとう」という意味もあります。
"Sumimasen" ni wa "arigatou" to iu imi mo arimasu.
"Sumimasen" also has the meaning of "thank you."
「ありがとう」という意味 = the meaning "thank you"
• Key Concept: という意味 is essential for language-learning contexts. • Pattern: [Word] は [explanation] という意味です = [Word] means [explanation]. • Question: どういう意味ですか = What does it mean? (extremely useful question).
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones という意味 is tested against.
vs ということ
ということ nominalizes a whole statement ("the fact/situation that..."); という意味 specifically explains what a word or phrase means.
vs つまり
つまり ("in other words") restates or summarizes; という意味です spells out the definition of a specific term.
More grammar patterns
- こと — Nominalizer (turning verbs into nouns)
- ことがある — Have experienced / Sometimes happens
- ことになる — It has been decided / It turns out
- ことにする — Decide to / Make it a rule to
- 〜方 (かた) — Way / Method of doing (how-to)
- 〜たり〜たり — Do things like… and… (representative actions)
- ということ — The Fact That / Meaning That
- ところ — About To / In the Middle / Just Finished (Timing)
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