A method for indicating channel state information CSI measurement and a communication apparatus. A network device indicates, to a terminal device by using first indication information, one or more frequency domain units in a downlink reference signal resource that are used by the terminal device to obtain CSI. The terminal device determines, based on the first indication information, which frequency domain units in the downlink reference signal resource are used to obtain the CSI, and perform measurement in the frequency domain unit to obtain the CSI. The network device flexibly configures CSI measurement based on a system status, to control obtaining of the CSI. This helps the terminal device obtain the CSI more pertinently based on the indication in different cases.