interjection or grunt of agreement or recognition (e.g. yes, it's me!)
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
āi
to sigh
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
āi
alas
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
āi
oh dear
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
āi
alas; exclamation of surprise or pain
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
ài
interjection or grunt of agreement or recognition (e.g. yes, it's me!)
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
ài
to sigh
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
ài
alas
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
ài
oh dear
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
唉
ài
alas; exclamation of surprise or pain
HSK 5, zg, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2778, Hard
ài(ai4)
primary
T4
1interjection or grunt of agreement or recognition (e.g. yes, it's me!)
2to sigh
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
唉ài(ai4)
The character 唉 (āi) serves as an interjection that expresses a range of emotions, including sighing, agreement, or surprise. It is often used in conversational contexts to convey feelings of resignation, disappointment, or sympathy, similar to saying 'oh dear' or 'alas' in English.
Strokes10Radical口Frequency#2778DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing emotions is important, and interjections like 唉 reflect a deeper connection to feelings in conversation. Sighing can be a way to convey empathy or shared hardship, highlighting the cultural emphasis on collective experience.
Memory Tip
Imagine someone sighing deeply when they are faced with a tough situation. The character 唉 looks like a person with a big open mouth letting out a sigh. The sound 'āi' can remind you of the sound people make when they exhale in disappointment.
Meanings of 唉
ài(ai4)
primary
1interjection or grunt of agreement or recognition (e.g. yes, it's me!)
2to sigh
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 唉
唉Simplified
10Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#2778Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 唉
Podcast: 唉
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 唉
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine someone sighing deeply when they are faced with a tough situation. The character 唉 looks like a person with a big open mouth letting out a sigh. The sound 'āi' can remind you of the sound people make when they exhale in disappointment.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 唉 with other interjections like 哎 (āi), which can express a different emotional tone. It is primarily informal and is frequently used in spoken Mandarin or casual writing. Watch out for tone mistakes; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 唉 connects to emotional expression and is useful for discussing feelings or reactions. Students should practice using it in different contexts to express sympathy or surprise, and relate it to other emotional vocabulary at this level.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing emotions is important, and interjections like 唉 reflect a deeper connection to feelings in conversation. Sighing can be a way to convey empathy or shared hardship, highlighting the cultural emphasis on collective experience.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 唉 with 哎, leading to incorrect emotional expressions. For example, using 哎 to express sadness instead of 唉 can alter the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 唉
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Grammar Patterns of 唉
唉 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
All right, let's stop playing games. Hand over the goods right now.
7
唉, 要是他懂英语该多好 啊 !
āi, , yào shì tā dǒng yīng yǔ gāi duō hǎo!
Oh, if only he knew English!
8
唉呀! 旅行袋忘了拿了.
āi yā! ! lǚ háng dài wàng le ná.
Oh dear! The travelling bag has been left behind.
9
唉! 那多遗憾呀!
āi! ! nà duō yí hàn!
Oh! That's a pity!
10
唉! 这阴沉的日子.
āi! ! zhè yīn chén de rì.
Alas! The heavy day!
Cultural Notes for 唉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing emotions is important, and interjections like 唉 reflect a deeper connection to feelings in conversation. Sighing can be a way to convey empathy or shared hardship, highlighting the cultural emphasis on collective experience.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, sighing may not carry the same weight of empathy or shared experience as it does in Chinese culture, where it can signify understanding and emotional support.
Word Family of 唉
Words Containing This Character3
唉àito sigh
唉唉crying sound
唉声叹气to heave deep sighs唉聲嘆氣
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 唉 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 唉
Use 唉 when you want to convey a sense of resignation or sympathy, especially in informal conversations.
No, 唉 is generally used in informal contexts, so it is best to avoid it in formal writing.
No, 唉 typically conveys negative emotions like disappointment or sympathy, not happiness.
