咦 (yí) - An interjection expressing surprise, doubt, or curiosity & equivalent to 'Huh?', 'Oh?', or 'Eh?' in English.

咦Tone 2

yí ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

一懿

咦 · yí

An interjection expressing surprise, doubt, or curiosity;

equivalent to 'Huh?', 'Oh?', or 'Eh?' in English.

An interjection expressing surprise, doubt, or curiosityequivalent to 'Huh?', 'Oh?', or 'Eh?' in English.

Usage highlights

Expressing surpriseShowing doubtIndicating curiosityReacting to strangenessQuestioning suddenlyNoticing something

Synonyms

  • 啊— Ah (expressing realization or surprise)
  • 嗯— Hmm (expressing thought or doubt)
  • 嗬— Oh (expressing surprise or admiration)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Huh? What did you say?(咦？你说什么？)
  • Oh? Is that really true?(咦？真的吗？)
  • Eh? Where did everyone go?(咦？人都去哪儿了？)
  • Hmm? This doesn't seem right.(咦？这好像不对。)

Collocations

  • Expressing surprise(咦了一声)
  • Showing doubt(咦，奇怪)
  • Indicating curiosity(咦，怎么回事)
  • Reacting to strangeness(咦，不对劲)
  • Questioning suddenly(咦，为什么)
  • Noticing something(咦，这是什么)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Commonly used in spoken Chinese as a spontaneous reaction to unexpected situations.
  • Frequently appears in dialogues in literature and media to convey characters' immediate reactions.
  • Considered an informal, conversational interjection rather than a formal expression.

FAQ