故意

故意 means 'on purpose' or 'intentionally.' It emphasizes that an action was done with deliberate intent, as opposed to accidentally or by mistake.

The character 故 (gù) originally meant 'old' or 'previous,' but in this context, it conveys the idea of 'deliberate' or 'intentional.' 意 (yì) means 'intention' or 'meaning.' Together, they form a compound meaning 'with intention' or 'on purpose.'

故意 is commonly used in everyday speech to clarify that an action was not accidental. For example, if someone breaks a glass, saying 他是故意的 (tā shì gù yì de) means 'he did it on purpose.' It can also appear in formal contexts, such as legal or moral discussions about responsibility and intent.