哟

喲
yō, yo
口 + 约

Definitions

yō (interjection) oh! (expression of surprise)
yo (particle) sentence-final particle showing emphasis; filler word in songs

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 约 represents the sound. Simplified form of 喲.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 约

About

哟, the simplified form of 喲, is a phono-semantic compound. The 口 (mouth) radical indicates speech or exclamation, while 约 (traditional 約) provides the pronunciation. It functions as an interjection or exclamatory particle, placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, to express mild surprise, astonishment, or realization, and can also gently emphasize a point or call for attention.

Example Sentences Hide

哎哟，我的头好疼。

Āiyō, wǒ de tóu hǎo téng.

Ouch, my head hurts so much.

时间不早了哟。

Shíjiān bù zǎo le yō.

It's getting late, you know.

你别忘了哟。

Nǐ bié wàng le yō.

Don't forget, okay.

这道题可真难哟。

Zhè dào tí kě zhēn nán yō.

This problem is really difficult, huh.

大家快来帮忙哟！

Dàjiā kuài lái bāngmáng yō!

Everyone, come and help, please!

你瞧，那朵花多美哟。

Nǐ qiáo, nà duǒ huā duō měi yō.

Look, how beautiful that flower is.

想不到你还有这一手哟。

Xiǎng bù dào nǐ hái yǒu zhè yī shǒu yō.

I didn't expect you to have this skill, wow.

要是早知道这样，我就不来了哟。

Yàoshì zǎo zhīdào zhèyàng, wǒ jiù bù lái le yō.

If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have come, you see.

Related Characters

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Component: 约

药

Example Words

哎哟 啊哟