high (on drugs, or as 'in high spirits') (loanword)
HSK 6, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #170, Hard
hāi(hai1) 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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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
Memory Mnemonic
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!
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.
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.
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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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.
hāi, , nà jiù shì táo lè sī gài, ěr ,《 xīn bǎn 《 kuà》.
Hey, that's Dorothy Gale, the new overnight sensation.
8
“嗨，”他说。“这真是个意外之喜。”
“ “，” hāi ，”。“ tā shuō 。“ zhè zhēn shì gè yì。”
"Hello," he said. "This is an unexpected pleasure."
9
嗨，你！你以为你在干什么？
hāi， ，！ nǐ ！ nǐ yǐ wéi nǐ zài gān？
Oi, you! What do you think you're doing?
10
嗨, 等一下! 你拿着我的手提袋上哪儿去了?
hāi, , děng yī! xià ! nǐ ná zháo wǒ de shǒu tí dài shàng nǎ ér?
Hey, just a minute. Where do you think you're going with my handbag?
Cultural Notes for 嗨
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 嗨
Words Containing This Character1
嗨hāihey!
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 嗨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗨
No, 嗨 is too informal for formal communications; use 你好 (nǐ hǎo) instead.
While it's popular among younger people, some older adults may also use it in casual settings.
Generally, 嗨 is positive, but using it in overly serious contexts might seem inappropriate.
