About
The character "唉" is structured with the mouth radical (口) on the left, indicating its function as an utterance, and the component 矣 on the right, which historically served a grammatical role as a final particle in classical Chinese. Derived from this function, "唉" was originally used as a responsive particle to express agreement or acknowledgment. Over time, its primary meaning shifted from a simple verbal response to a specific interjection conveying a sigh, and it became associated with expressing regret, disappointment, or sorrow. This semantic expansion allowed the character to function as an onomatopoeic representation of an audible sigh while retaining its core connection to vocal expression through its persistent mouth radical.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
唉，我迟到了。
唉，今天又下雨了。
唉，这个任务太难完成了。
他唉了一声，继续埋头工作。
唉声叹气解决不了任何问题。
她看着成绩单，连连唉叹。
你别总是唉声叹气的，振作起来！
面对这种困境，他也只能无奈地唉叹命运不公。