The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for determining a precoding matrix indicator, user equipment, and a base station. The method includes: determining a precoding matrix indicator PMI, where the PMI corresponds to a precoding matrix W, and the precoding matrix W satisfies a first condition, a second condition, or a third condition; and sending the PMI to a base station. Embodiments of the present invention further provide a corresponding apparatus, and the corresponding user equipment and base station. Technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention can effectively control a beam, especially a beam shape and a beam orientation, in a horizontal direction and a perpendicular direction.