唉

• Pinyin: ài
• Hanzi breakdown: 唉 = 口 (mouth) + 矣 (particle)

Meaning

Alas; sigh (interjection expressing disappointment, regret, or resignation).

An interjection conveying a sense of helplessness, disappointment, or resigned acceptance. Different from 哎 (which gets attention) — 唉 expresses emotional sighing. The tone is typically downward.

Examples

1. 唉，早知道会这样，当初就不该答应他。 Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have agreed back then.
2. 唉，年纪大了，记性越来越差了。 Alas, as I get older, my memory gets worse and worse.
3. 唉，说多了都是泪，不提了。 Sigh, the more you say, the more it hurts. Let's not talk about it.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation

Tone: melancholic

Do Say

• 唉，算了吧。(Sigh, forget it.)
• 唉，人生就是这样。(Alas, such is life.)

Don't Say

• 在积极的场合频繁说'唉' (Don't sigh with 唉 repeatedly in positive situations — it dampens the mood)

Origin & History

An onomatopoeic character representing the sound of a sigh, composed of 口 (mouth) and 矣 (particle).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal