The invention discloses a reference signal indication method, a network device and a terminal device. The method comprises the steps of configuring a target reference signal pattern employed in a nexttransmission time interval for the terminal device; not sending reference signal indication information to the terminal device when the target reference signal pattern is a default reference signal pattern, or not sending the reference signal indication information to the terminal device when the target reference signal pattern is the same as the reference signal pattern indicated by the reference signal indication information received last time, wherein the target reference signal pattern is the reference signal pattern selected from a plurality of preset reference signal patterns. Accordingto the method, the network device and the terminal device, when the default reference signal pattern is employed in the next transmission time interval or the reference signal pattern the same as thereference signal pattern employed in a previous transmission time interval is employed, the reference signal indication information is not sent, on the premise of ensuring that the reference signal pattern is indicated accurately, the sending times of the system information is reduced, the bit cost of the system information is reduced, and a business transmission rate is improved.