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
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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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 海 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half海 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 嗨? 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 嗨?
Decomposition of 嗨
IDS Structure⿰口海
嗨Full Character
=
口kou3
left
海Hai3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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.
