high (on drugs, or as 'in high spirits') (loanword)
HSK 6, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #170, Hard
hāi(hai1)hai T1
1oh alas
2hey!
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March 24, 2026
嗨hāi(hai1)
嗨 (hāi) is an informal greeting similar to 'hey' or 'hi' in English. It is often used among friends or in casual settings to express excitement or to get someone's attention. The use of 嗨 can also imply a sense of high spirits or being carefree.
Strokes13Radical口Frequency#170DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese culture, 嗨 reflects the influence of Western slang, particularly among younger generations. It is commonly used in social media and entertainment, emphasizing a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cheerful person waving and shouting 'hi!' while feeling high on life. The character 嗨 looks a bit like a person waving, and the sound 'hāi' can remind you of a joyous call. Picture a party where everyone is excitedly saying 嗨!
Meanings of 嗨
hāi(hai1)
1oh alas
2hey!
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 嗨 means.
About 嗨
嗨Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
叹词tàncíinterjection (interj.)Part of Speech
#170Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1
Podcast: 嗨
Podcast: 嗨
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AI Study Notes for 嗨
Usage Notes
嗨 is primarily used in informal contexts, so be cautious not to use it in formal situations. A common mistake is to use it excessively, as it can sound overly casual. It’s often paired with other informal expressions like '你好' (nǐ hǎo) or '你怎么样' (nǐ zěnme yàng).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 嗨 connects with other informal expressions and greetings. Focus on understanding its casual usage and how it fits into conversational Mandarin, especially in social contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 嗨 in formal contexts, mistakenly believing it's universally applicable. For example, saying '嗨, 先生' (Hi, Sir) is incorrect; instead, use '您好' (Nín hǎo) for a respectful greeting.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嗨
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How Well Do You Know 嗨?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 嗨 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.
嗨 = 口 + 海. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 嗨
IDS Structure⿰口海
嗨Full Character
=
口kou3
left
海Hai3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 嗨?
How to say oh alas in Chinese
“oh alas” in Chinese is嗨hāi
嗨 (hāi) is an informal greeting similar to 'hey' or 'hi' in English. It is often used among friends or in casual settings to express excitement or to get someone's attention. The use of 嗨 can also imply a sense of high spirits or being carefree.
When to use 嗨
嗨 is primarily used in informal contexts, so be cautious not to use it in formal situations. A common mistake is to use it excessively, as it can sound overly casual. It’s often paired with other informal expressions like '你好' (nǐ hǎo) or '你怎么样' (nǐ zěnme yàng).
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 嗨 in formal contexts, mistakenly believing it's universally applicable. For example, saying '嗨, 先生' (Hi, Sir) is incorrect; instead, use '您好' (Nín hǎo) for a respectful greeting.
Write 嗨
嗨
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Practice writing 嗨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 嗨
嗨 functions as an interjection — a standalone exclamation. It typically opens the sentence (啊！哎呀！) and is set off by a pause or comma. It carries 5 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.
