Definitions
(interjection) hey!; Taiwan pr. [tai]
(dialect) non-local in one's speaking accent
Etymology phono-semantic
Phonetic:
太
About
呔 is a phono-semantic compound made up of the mouth radical 口, which provides the meaning of vocalization, and the phonetic component 太. Depending on context, it plays two roles. In traditional theatrical settings and old vernacular literature, it is a sharp interjection (pronounced dāi) used to startle or hail someone. In modern Chinese, it is a phonetic transcription character for the English word "tie", meaning necktie or tire, and is pronounced tāi. The character is thus purely functional, either to deliver a dramatic shout or to incorporate a foreign loanword.
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