意味着
yì wèi zhe · HSK 5
to mean
💭 意 (idea) + 味 (flavor) + 着 (-ing) = carrying the flavor of an idea
意 = thought/intent, 味 = taste/flavor, 着 = ongoing aspect marker. Together: something carries the taste or implication of a meaning — i.e. it signifies or implies.
着 — sheep 羊 (top) + eye 目 (bottom)
着 originated as a variant of 著, which depicted plants emerging visibly above ground (grass radical 艹 over 者). Over time 着 split off to carry meanings like 'attach,' 'wear,' or a verb suffix marking ongoing action (zhe), while 著 kept senses like 'manifest' or 'author.'