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誒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
誒éioh, hey; surprise (tone 2), disagreement (tone 3), agreement (tone 4)x, 14 strokes, radical 言
éi(ei2) T2
  1. 1oh, hey; surprise (tone 2), disagreement (tone 3), agreement (tone 4)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

誒éi(ei2)

The character 誒 (éi) is an interjection used in Mandarin to express surprise, disagreement, or agreement, depending on the tone used. In casual conversations, it often serves as an attention-getter or a filler, similar to 'oh' or 'hey' in English, and can convey a range of emotions depending on the context.

Strokes14Radical言
Cultural Note

In casual Chinese conversations, interjections like 誒 are commonly used to make dialogue more lively and expressive, reflecting the importance of tone and emotion in communication.

Memory Tip

Imagine a surprised person exclaiming 'é!' when something unexpected happens. The character has a mouth (口) and a sound component (音), suggesting a vocal reaction. Visualize a person raising their eyebrows and saying 'é!' as a way to remember its use in expressing surprise.

Meanings of 誒

éi(ei2)
1oh, hey; surprise (tone 2), disagreement (tone 3), agreement (tone 4)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 誒

誒Simplified
14Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 誒

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Podcast: 誒

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 誒

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse the tones of 誒, leading to misunderstandings. Remember that the second tone (éi) indicates surprise, the third tone (ěi) shows disagreement, and the fourth tone (è) signifies agreement. It's primarily used in informal settings.

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding 誒 can enhance conversational skills at the beginner level. Students should focus on practicing the different tones to master its various usages.

Common Mistakes

Learners often use the wrong tone for 誒, leading to confusion. For example, saying 'ěi' when they mean 'éi' can change the meaning from surprise to disagreement. Always practice the correct tones to avoid this mistake.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 誒

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Etymology of 誒

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To verbally 言 confirm 矣 ; 矣 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 誒

  1. 1The giveawayTo verbally 言 confirm 矣 ; 矣 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 誒? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 誒?

Decomposition of 誒

IDS Structure⿰言矣
誒Full Character
=
言yan2
left
矣yi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 誒?

How to say oh, hey; surprise (tone 2), disagreement (tone 3), agreement (tone 4) in Chinese

“oh, hey; surprise (tone 2), disagreement (tone 3), agreement (tone 4)” in Chinese is誒éi

The character 誒 (éi) is an interjection used in Mandarin to express surprise, disagreement, or agreement, depending on the tone used. In casual conversations, it often serves as an attention-getter or a filler, similar to 'oh' or 'hey' in English, and can convey a range of emotions depending on the context.

When to use 誒

Learners often confuse the tones of 誒, leading to misunderstandings. Remember that the second tone (éi) indicates surprise, the third tone (ěi) shows disagreement, and the fourth tone (è) signifies agreement. It's primarily used in informal settings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often use the wrong tone for 誒, leading to confusion. For example, saying 'ěi' when they mean 'éi' can change the meaning from surprise to disagreement. Always practice the correct tones to avoid this mistake.

Write 誒

誒

Practice writing 誒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 誒

Words Containing This Character1
诶ēihey (to express surprise)誒
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 诶 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 誒

It can mean 'oh' or 'hey' and express surprise, disagreement, or agreement depending on the tone.

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