About
The character "嘿" is built upon the phono-semantic principle common in Chinese writing, integrating the semantic radical "口" to indicate its connection to sounds produced by the mouth and the phonetic component "黑" which originally offered a proximate clue to its pronunciation. Initially serving as an onomatopoeic representation for various utterances such as soft laughter or subdued exclamations, its meaning gradually consolidated over time into a dedicated interjection used to capture attention, express recognition, or convey a tone of informal emphasis. While its graphical composition has remained stable, the character's functional application has broadened from merely mimicking audible cues to occupying a range of pragmatic roles in dialogue, including as a casual greeting or a filler word, marking a shift from literal sound depiction to nuanced social and linguistic utility.
Example Sentences Hide
嘿，快来看看！
嘿，你在干什么？
嘿，别那么大声！
他嘿嘿地笑了。
嘿，这件事真奇怪！
我嘿了一声打招呼。
他嘿嘿笑着不说话。
嘿，你听说过那个新闻吗？