(interjection used to attract attention or to express surprise or disapprobation)
HSK 5, e, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2416, Hard
哎
āi
interjection of surprise
HSK 5, e, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #2416, Hard
āi(ai1) T1
1hey!
2(interjection used to attract attention or to express surprise or disapprobation)
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March 24, 2026
哎āi(ai1)
The character 哎 (āi) is an interjection commonly used to attract attention or express surprise, disappointment, or disapproval. It often conveys a feeling of resignation or exasperation in conversational contexts, reflecting a speaker's emotional state. This character is frequently used in everyday conversations among friends or in informal settings.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#2416DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 哎 often reflects a communal understanding of emotions, allowing speakers to express feelings of frustration or surprise succinctly. It is a marker of empathy in conversations, showing that speakers share the emotional weight of a situation.
Memory Tip
Think of 哎 (āi) as a person sighing in exasperation, 'Ah!' as they try to get your attention. The radical 哀 (āi) suggests sadness or a sigh, aligning with the emotional undertones of the interjection.
Meanings of 哎
āi(ai1)
1hey!
2(interjection used to attract attention or to express surprise or disapprobation)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 哎
哎Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
叹词tàncíinterjection (interj.)Part of Speech
#2416Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 哎
Podcast: 哎
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AI Study Notes for 哎
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as 哎 is pronounced with the first tone (āi) but can easily be mispronounced. It is informal, so avoid using it in formal contexts. Common collocations include 哎呀 (āiyā), an expression of surprise or realization.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, students should focus on the emotional subtleties of 哎 and how it can change meaning based on context. It connects well with other interjections and expressions of emotion learned at this level, enhancing conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 哎 as 'ái' (second tone) instead of 'āi' (first tone). Additionally, some may confuse it with 哀 (āi), which carries a more somber meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 哎
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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 艾 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half艾 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 哎? 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 哎?
Decomposition of 哎
IDS Structure⿰口艾
哎Full Character
=
口kou3
left
艾Ai4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 哎?
How to say hey! in Chinese
“hey!” in Chinese is哎āi
The character 哎 (āi) is an interjection commonly used to attract attention or express surprise, disappointment, or disapproval. It often conveys a feeling of resignation or exasperation in conversational contexts, reflecting a speaker's emotional state. This character is frequently used in everyday conversations among friends or in informal settings.
When to use 哎
Be cautious with the tone, as 哎 is pronounced with the first tone (āi) but can easily be mispronounced. It is informal, so avoid using it in formal contexts. Common collocations include 哎呀 (āiyā), an expression of surprise or realization.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 哎 as 'ái' (second tone) instead of 'āi' (first tone). Additionally, some may confuse it with 哀 (āi), which carries a more somber meaning.
Write 哎
哎
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Practice writing 哎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 哎
哎 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 3 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.
