唉 (āi) - An interjection expressing sighing, regret, or acknowledgment & also used to get attention.

唉Tone 1

āi ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

安

唉 · āi

An interjection expressing sighing, regret, or acknowledgment;

also used to get attention.

An interjection expressing sighing, regret, or acknowledgmentalso used to get attention.

Usage highlights

Sighing soundSighing with regretSigh of disappointmentExpression of regretCalling for attentionResponding

Synonyms

  • 哎— similar interjection for surprise or calling attention
  • 啊— general exclamation expressing various emotions

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He sighed deeply (唉声叹气).
  • Oh well, it can't be helped (唉，没办法).
  • Ahem, may I have your attention? (唉，请注意一下).
  • Alas, what a pity (唉，真可惜).

Collocations

  • Sighing sound(唉声)
  • Sighing with regret(唉叹)
  • Sigh of disappointment(唉气)
  • Expression of regret(唉呀)
  • Calling for attention(唉，你)
  • Responding(唉，来了)

Idioms

  • Sighing and moaning(唉声叹气)
  • Sighing with regret(唉声叹道)
  • Alas and alack(唉唉叫)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used as a common interjection in daily conversation to express various emotions.
  • Often appears in classical and modern Chinese literature to convey characters' emotional states.
  • The character combines the mouth radical 口 with the phonetic component 矣.

FAQ