The Chinese exclamation 哎哟 (āiyō) is formed through the reduplicative combination of two distinct interjections: 哎 (āi), a common vocalization used to express surprise or acknowledgment, and 哟 (yō), a particle often indicating sudden pain, slight protest, or unexpected discovery. Together, they create a single, fused expressive unit that phonetically mimics a spontaneous human vocal reaction. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where monosyllabic exclamatory sounds are paired to intensify or nuance an emotional response, specifically conveying a blend of sudden pain, shock, or exasperation in a way that feels more vivid and natural than either component alone.