Intentionally – gùyì

Grammar Point:
故意 gùyì is an adverb in Chinese that means “intentionally” or “on purpose.” In sentences, it often appears before the verb to clarify that the action was not accidental but was carried out with a specific intent.

Structure

S + 故意 gùyì + V

他tā故意gùyì把bǎ我的wǒde咖啡kāfēi弄nòng倒dǎo他tā故意gùyì把bǎ我的wǒde咖啡kāfēi弄nòng倒dǎo
He intentionally knocked over my coffee.

你nǐ是不是shìbúshì故意gùyì的de？ 你nǐ是不是shìbúshì故意gùyì的de？
Did you do it on purpose?

對不起duìbùqǐ我wǒ不是búshì故意gùyì的de对不起duìbuqǐ我wǒ不是búshì故意gùyì的de
I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose.

沒有méiyǒu人rén會huì故意gùyì把bǎ錢qián丟diū進jìn洗衣機xǐyìjī裡lǐ洗xǐ没有méiyǒu人rén会huì故意gùyì把bǎ钱qián丢diū进jìn洗衣机xǐyìjī里lǐ洗xǐ 😭
Nobody would intentionally put money in the washing machine.

你nǐ故意gùyì把bǎ門mén鎖suǒ起來qǐlái是shì不想bùxiǎng讓ràng我wǒ回來huílái嗎ma？ 你nǐ故意gùyì把bǎ门mén锁suǒ起来qǐlái是shì不想bùxiǎng让ràng我wǒ回来huílái吗ma？
Did you intentionally lock the door because you didn’t want me to come back?

你nǐ覺得juéde他tā是shì故意gùyì的de嗎ma？ 你nǐ觉得juéde他tā是shì故意gùyì的de吗ma？
Do you think he did it on purpose?

你nǐ為什麼wèishénme故意gùyì用yòng紅筆hóngbǐ寫xiě我的wǒde名字míngzi？ 你nǐ为什么wèishénme故意gùyì用yòng红笔hóngbǐ写xiě我的wǒde名字míngzi？
Why did you deliberately write my name with a red pen?

FYI
“Writing Names in Red” or “Red Ink Curse” is a superstition or belief that has its origins in ancient legends. According to these legends, when ancient judges were sentencing people to death, they would use chicken blood to write the names of the condemned on a confession or sentencing document. Over time, this practice evolved so that not only the names of those sentenced to death but also the names recorded in official documents at government offices (such as court records) had to be written in red ink. As a result, writing names in red ink gradually became associated with death penalties and criminal activities.
As this superstition persisted, people began to view writing names in red ink as an ominous or unlucky practice. They believed that doing so could bring misfortune or, in extreme cases, even symbolize the potential for harm or death.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Why did you intentionally buy a latte when I asked for black coffee?

我wǒ要yào你nǐ買mǎi黑咖啡hēikāfēi你nǐ為什麼wèishénme故意gùyì買mǎi拿鐵nátiě我wǒ要yào你nǐ买mǎi黑咖啡hēikāfēi你nǐ为什么wèishénme故意gùyì买mǎi拿铁nátiě

✔️ You’re well aware that I’m on a diet, yet you deliberately eat fried chicken in front of me.

你nǐ明míng知道zhīdào我wǒ在zài減肥jiǎnféi還hái故意gùyì在zài我wǒ面前miànqián吃chī炸雞zhàjī你nǐ明míng知道zhīdào我wǒ在zài减肥jiǎnféi还hái故意gùyì在zài我wǒ面前miànqián吃chī炸鸡zhájī

✔️ Are you trying to provoke me on purpose?

你nǐ是不是shìbúshì故意gùyì在zài找zhǎo我wǒ麻煩máfán你nǐ是不是shìbúshì故意gùyì在zài找zhǎo我wǒ麻烦máfán