Expressing “Deliberately” with “gùyì”
故意
How it works
故意 (gùyì) means “deliberately,” “on purpose,” or “intentionally.” It is used when someone does something with clear intention, especially when the action could have been avoided or is done for a particular effect.
It often carries a slightly negative tone, though not always.
Example sentences
我并不是故意不回你消息，只是昨天一直在开会，根本没机会看手机。
I did not deliberately ignore your messages; I was just in meetings the whole day yesterday and had no chance to look at my phone.
他明明知道这么说会伤人，却还是故意当着大家的面说出来。
He clearly knew that saying this would hurt people, yet he still deliberately said it in front of everyone.
有时候他表面上看起来像是在开玩笑，其实是在故意试探别人的态度。
Sometimes he appears to be joking on the surface, but in fact he is deliberately testing other people’s attitudes.
Key point
故意 (gùyì) focuses on intentionality, especially when the action is sensitive, strategic, or possibly harmful.