...是什么意思？
The go-to question for 'What does ___ mean?' Reach for this any time you hear or read a word, phrase, or symbol you don't understand and you want a definition. The thing you don't understand goes first, then 是什么意思. Works for single characters, full words, idioms, abbreviations, even gestures or memes. It's the single most useful question for a learner — say it twenty times a day and you'll learn faster than from any textbook.
Structure
[WORD] 是什么意思？
[WORD] shì shénme yìsi?
How to Think About It
Chinese fronts the topic: the thing you're asking about goes first, then the question hangs off the end like a tag. English does the opposite ('what does X mean?'). So train yourself to lead with the word — say it, then 是什么意思. The whole phrase 是什么意思 is one chunk; don't try to translate it word by word.
Examples
'降'是什么意思？
"Jiàng" shì shénme yìsi?
What does "降" mean?
这个词是什么意思？
Zhège cí shì shénme yìsi?
What does this word mean?
你说的'忙'是什么意思？
Nǐ shuō de "máng" shì shénme yìsi?
What do you mean by "busy"?
Common Mistake
Learners say 什么意思 with the target word stuck at the end, copying English 'what does X mean.' In Chinese the topic must come first; putting it at the end sounds like you're asking 'what is the meaning of meaning of X.'
什么意思'降'？
'降'是什么意思？
Don't Confuse With
...怎么说？
Asks how to SAY something in Chinese ('How do you say this in Chinese?'), not what a Chinese word means. Use 怎么说 when you have a concept and need the word; use 是什么意思 when you have the word and need the concept.
...是什么？
Asks what something IS, not what it means. '这是什么？' = 'What is this?' (a physical object). '这是什么意思？' = 'What does this mean?' (the meaning behind it).
...的意思是...
Statement form, not a question. 的意思是 introduces a definition you're giving; 是什么意思 asks for one.
Practice
Fill in: '降'是___么意思？
Show answer
什
Fill in: 这个词是什么___？
Show answer
意思
Arrange: 意思 / 这个 / 什么 / 词 / 是 / ？
Show answer
这个词是什么意思？
Translate: What does "内卷" mean?
Show answer
'内卷'是什么意思？
Write a question using ...是什么意思？ about any Chinese word you don't know.
Show answer
'佛系'是什么意思？
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: