Chinese Conversation · Level 1
86 words
Chinese word
哎呀
Pronunciation
Pinyināi yā
Meaning
- interjectionoh
Example
哎呀，我忘带钥匙了。āi yā wǒ wàng dài yào shi le
Oh, I forgot to bring my keys.
More examples
哎呀，太可惜了，他没来。āi yā tài kě xī le tā méi lái
Oh, what a shame he did not come.
Core concept
A brief spoken burst that lets a sudden reaction spill into conversation, often with a touch of dismay or reproach.
Common phrases
哎呀，太可惜了āi yā tài kě xī le
Oh, that's too bad
哎呀，别急āi yā bié jí
Oh, don't rush
哎呀，小心āi yā xiǎo xīn
Oh, watch out
Similar words
哎哟āi yō: A short cry showing mild physical pain.
哎āi: A short call used to get someone's attention.
啊a: A brief exclamation showing surprise.
唉āi: A short sigh expressing regret or sadness.
Definition in Chinese
口语感叹词，用来表达突然的惊讶、懊恼或带有轻微责备的情绪，常见于非正式对话中，语气可强可弱。kóu yǔ gǎn tàn cí yòng lái biǎo dá tū rán de jīng yà ào nǎo huò dài yǒu qīng wēi zé bèi de qíng xù cháng jiàn yú fēi zhèng shì duì huà zhōng yǔ qì kě qiáng kě ruò
Word origin
The word combines 哎 (āi, "an interjection") with 呀 (ya, "an expressive sentence-ending particle"), giving a short exclamation with a distinctly conversational tone.
Usage tips
- It often suits small everyday mishaps as well as sudden surprise, so treating every use as a sign of serious alarm can make the speaker sound too dramatic.
Other meanings
- oh nointerjection
- oh dearinterjection