Chinese phrase
哎呀 āi yā
Meaning
oops
When to use it
This exclamation shows mild surprise, worry, or regret. It is common in casual speech when a small mistake or sudden problem occurs.
Example dialogue
哎呀，我忘了带钥匙。 āi yā wǒ wàng le dài yào shi
Oops, I forgot to bring my keys.
没关系，我车里有备用钥匙。 méi guān xì wǒ chē lǐ yǒu bèi yòng yào shi
No problem, I have a spare key in my car.