Ai (c. 2000 BC), sixth of legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝[Yán dì] descended from Shennong 神農
vg, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #16597, Very Hard
哀
Āi
Ai (c. 2000 BC), sixth of legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God, also known as Li 釐|厘[Li2]
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #16597, Very Hard
哀
Āi
Farmer God, also known as Li 釐
vg, 9 strokes, radical 口, rank #16597, Very Hard
Āi(Ai1)ai T1
1sorrow
2grief
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
哀Āi(Ai1)
The character 哀 (āi) primarily means sorrow or grief. It is used in contexts related to mourning or expressing pity for someone's misfortune. This character conveys a deep emotional resonance, often associated with loss or sadness.
Strokes9Radical口Frequency#16597DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing sorrow and mourning is significant, particularly during traditional ceremonies like funerals. The character 哀 is often seen in phrases used during mourning to honor the deceased.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person crying out in sorrow, their mouth open wide (represented by the character's '口' radical) as they express their grief. The '心' (heart) in the character symbolizes the deep emotions involved. Think of 'āi' sounding like 'I' in English, as in 'I feel sorrow.'
Meanings of 哀
Āi(Ai1)
1sorrow
2grief
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 哀 means.
About 哀
哀Simplified
9Strokes
口Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#16597Frequency Rank
Podcast: 哀
Podcast: 哀
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AI Study Notes for 哀
Quick Contrast
哀 (āi) vs 悲 (bēi) — use 哀 when expressing sorrow related to mourning, while 悲 is often used for general sadness or disappointment.
Usage Notes
哀 is used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in literary or poetic texts. Common collocations include 哀悼 (āidào - to mourn) and 哀伤 (āishāng - sadness). Students should be cautious with tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Though not on the official HSK list, 哀 connects to other emotional vocabulary at the same level, such as 悲 (bēi - sorrow). Focus on understanding its use in expressions of grief and how it relates to other emotional terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 哀 with similar emotional terms like 悲 or 伤 (shāng - hurt). For example, saying '我感到哀伤' (Wǒ gǎndào āi shāng) is incorrect; it should be '我感到悲伤' (Wǒ gǎndào bēi shāng) for general sadness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 哀
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How Well Do You Know 哀?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 哀 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
哀 = 口 + 衣. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 哀
IDS Structure⿻衣口
哀Full Character
=
衣yi1
outer
口kou3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 哀?
How to say sorrow in Chinese
“sorrow” in Chinese is哀Āi
The character 哀 (āi) primarily means sorrow or grief. It is used in contexts related to mourning or expressing pity for someone's misfortune. This character conveys a deep emotional resonance, often associated with loss or sadness.
When to use 哀
哀 is used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in literary or poetic texts. Common collocations include 哀悼 (āidào - to mourn) and 哀伤 (āishāng - sadness). Students should be cautious with tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
哀 or something close to it
哀 (āi) vs 悲 (bēi) — use 哀 when expressing sorrow related to mourning, while 悲 is often used for general sadness or disappointment.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 哀 with similar emotional terms like 悲 or 伤 (shāng - hurt). For example, saying '我感到哀伤' (Wǒ gǎndào āi shāng) is incorrect; it should be '我感到悲伤' (Wǒ gǎndào bēi shāng) for general sadness.
Write 哀
哀
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Practice writing 哀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 哀
哀 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 11 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们经过时，响起了令人____怜的恸哭。
As they pass by, a piteous wailing is heard.
Example Sentences for 哀 (10)
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1
他们经过时，响起了令人哀怜的恸哭。
tā mén jīng guò shí， ， xiǎng qǐ le líng rén āi lián de tòng。
