Chinese word

哎哟

Pronunciation

Pinyināi yō

Meaning

  • interjectionah

Example

哎哟，你回来了？āi yō nǐ huí lái le

Ah, you're back?

Illustration for 哎哟 (ah)

More examples

哎哟，你也在这里，真巧。āi yō nǐ yě zài zhè lǐ zhēn qiǎo

Oh, you're here too. What a coincidence.

Core concept

A brief spoken cry that marks a sudden jolt of pain, surprise, or concern.

Common phrases

  • 哎哟，好久不见āi yō háo jiǔ bú jiàn

    Oh, long time no see

  • 哎哟，真巧āi yō zhēn qiǎo

    Oh, what a coincidence

Similar words

哎呀āi yā: A short cry for a light or mild surprise.
哎āi: A short call that draws someone's attention.
哦ó: A short reaction to noticing or realizing something.
哇wa: A short cry of powerful surprise or amazement.

Definition in Chinese

口语中用来表达突发的疼痛、惊讶或怜惜等短促反应的感叹词，一般不用于正式场合。kóu yǔ zhōng yòng lái biǎo dá tū fā de téng tòng jīng yà huò lián xī děng duǎn cù fǎn yìng de gǎn tàn cí yì bān bú yòng yú zhèng shì chǎng hé

Word origin

哎 (āi, "an exclamation of surprise") + 哟 (yō, "a softening particle") combine into a lively conversational cry for an immediate reaction.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may search for one fixed equivalent, but this informal exclamation shifts among pain, surprise, and concern according to the situation and voice.

Other meanings

  • ouchinterjection
  • ohinterjection

Word lists with this word