嘿

• Pinyin: hēi
• Hanzi breakdown: 嘿 = 口 (mouth) + 黑 (black/phonetic — provides sound) — a mouth making a sharp exclamatory sound

Meaning

Hey; an exclamatory interjection used to attract attention, express surprise, satisfaction, mild reproach, or amusement. Also functions as an informal greeting.

嘿 is a versatile spoken interjection whose meaning is highly dependent on tone of voice and context. It can be a casual greeting (嘿，你来了！— Hey, you're here!), express pleasant surprise (嘿，这个还不错！— Hey, this is quite good!), convey mild reproach (嘿，你怎么能这样！— Hey, how could you do that!), or mark amusement. Primarily informal; widely used in casual dialogue and online communication.

Examples

1. 嘿，你怎么提前回来了，我以为你今晚要加班到很晚呢，真是太好了。 Hey, how come you’re back early? I thought you’d be working late tonight—this is great.
2. 嘿，这家新开的餐厅口味出乎意料地正宗，下次一定要约上朋友们一起来好好品尝一番。 Hey, this new restaurant is surprisingly authentic. Next time we have to bring friends and really try it properly.
3. 嘿，你把我的钱包顺手带走了吧，害我翻箱倒柜找了半天，快点还给我。 Hey, you grabbed my wallet on your way out, didn’t you? I tore the place apart looking for it—hurry up and give it back.

Usage Guide

Context: casual conversation, social media, dialogue, expressions of surprise

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 嘿，上次你推荐的那本书我终于看完了，果然精彩，改天咱们找个时间好好聊聊各自的感受。(Hey, I finally finished the book you recommended last time — it really was fantastic. Let's find some time to chat about our thoughts soon.)
• 嘿，你今天气色看起来不太好，是昨晚没睡好吗？有什么需要帮忙的地方，尽管直接开口就行。(Hey, you don't look well today — did you sleep badly last night? If there's anything I can help with, just say the word.)

Don't Say

• 嘿 in formal written communication, official correspondence, or professional settings — use 您好 or appropriate formal salutations; 嘿 is strictly informal and inappropriate in professional contexts

Origin & History

Onomatopoeic interjection — 口 (mouth) + 黑 (phonetic) — phonetically represents a natural exclamatory sound

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal