Word: 本意 (běnyì) 本意 dictionary entry běnyì original idea; real intention; etymon Full dictionary entry for 本意 Example sentences using 本意 3 sentences, showing page 1 of 1. 你的本意是想那样做吗？ Nǐ de běnyì shì xiǎng nàyàng zuò ma? Did you mean to do that? 自私不是我的本意。 Zìsī bú shì wǒ de běnyì. I didn't mean to be selfish. 那不是我的本意。 Nà bú shì wǒ de běnyì. That wasn't my intention.