About
The character 哎, serving as an interjection to denote surprise or to solicit attention, is constructed from the mouth radical 口 combined with the component 艾, which primarily functions as a phonetic indicator. This arrangement follows a conventional pattern in Chinese character formation where the radical categorizes the term within the domain of sound or speech, while the accompanying element suggests its pronunciation. Etymologically, 哎 originated as a phonetic loan character devised to transcribe a specific exclamatory sound, and its structural consistency highlights the logical approach to representing vocalizations in the writing system. Over time, the character has retained its fundamental role as an exclamatory particle without undergoing significant semantic shifts, reflecting its stable function in facilitating expressive oral communication.
Example Sentences Hide
哎，你过来一下。
哎，我真没想到啊！
哎，这件事太可惜了。
哎，你怎么不说话？
哎，我又忘记带钥匙了。
哎，这次考试没考好。
哎，如果你早点告诉我多好。
哎，看到这个结果我真的很失望。