哎

• Pinyin: āi
• Hanzi breakdown: 哎 = 口 (mouth) + 矣 (phonetic component)

Meaning

Hey; oh (interjection to get attention or express mild surprise).

A casual interjection used to call someone's attention, express mild surprise, or signal a sudden thought. Less emphatic than 哎呀. Often appears at the start of a sentence.

Examples

1. 哎，你怎么在这儿？我还以为你出差去了呢。 Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were on a business trip.
2. 哎，差点忘了告诉你，明天的会议改到下午三点了。 Oh, I almost forgot to tell you — tomorrow's meeting has been moved to 3 PM.
3. 哎，你听说了吗？隔壁那家咖啡店要关门了。 Hey, did you hear? That coffee shop next door is closing.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 哎，等一下！(Hey, wait a moment!)
• 哎，我想起来了。(Oh, I just remembered.)

Don't Say

• 在正式演讲中用'哎'开头 (Don't start a formal speech with 哎 — it's too casual)

Origin & History

An onomatopoeic interjection mimicking a natural vocal sound to attract attention.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal