Several parts combine into one character.

意 combines 音 (sound) with 心 (heart) — what wells up from the heart (心) and emerges as sound (音), that is, "idea, thought, will." A profound compound: the sound within the heart is meaning itself. The 心 (heart) seen earlier sits at the bottom.

Korean hanja-sound "ui": 意味 (uimi, meaning), 意見 (uigyeon, opinion), 意志 (uiji, will), 注意 (juui, attention), 同意 (dong-ui, agreement), 意識 (uisik, consciousness), 惡意 (agui, malice). It enters nearly every word about "mind, intent."

Mandarin: yì, 4th tone. 意思 (yìsi, meaning), 意见 (yìjiàn, opinion), 注意 (zhùyì, to pay attention), 同意 (tóngyì, to agree), 愿意 (yuànyì, to be willing), 故意 (gùyì, on purpose). 意思 (yìsi) is a daily essential covering "meaning, sense, fun, regard."

Japanese: on-reading イ (i) — essentially no kun-reading. 意味 (imi, meaning), 意見 (iken, opinion), 注意 (chūi, attention), 意識 (ishiki, consciousness), 得意 (tokui, one's strong point), 用意 (yōi, preparation). Used daily as 意味 (imi, meaning) and 注意 (chūi, attention).

Memory aid: the sound (音) that wells up from the heart (心) — the sound within the heart is meaning.