Definitions

(interjection) (interj.) ha!; laughter sound
(verb) to be infatuated with; to adore

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phonosemantic compound: the mouth radical on the left signals a connection to vocalization or breath, and the right component indicates the pronunciation. The character originally referred to exhaling heavily, puffing, or breathing out warm air with an open mouth. Since its sound mimics the exhale, it naturally became an onomatopoeia for hearty laughter. In modern usage, besides exhalation and laughter, it is extensively employed as a phonetic transcription character for foreign loanwords and geographic names.

Example Sentences Hide

,你来了!

Hā hā, nǐ lái le!

Haha, you're here!

他打了一个大欠。

Tā dǎ le yī gè dà hā qiàn.

He let out a big yawn.

对着镜子了一口气。

Duì zhe jìngzi hā le yī kǒu qì.

He breathed a puff of air onto the mirror.

妈妈买了一个密瓜。

Māma mǎi le yī gè hā mì guā.

Mom bought a Hami melon.

邻居家养了一只巴狗。

Línjū jiā yǎng le yì zhī hǎ bā gǒu.

The neighbor keeps a pug dog.

听完笑话,他笑地走了。

Tīng wán xiàohua, tā xiào hā hā de zǒu le.

After hearing the joke, he walked away laughing heartily.

这种盲目崇拜被称为“韩”现象。

Zhè zhǒng mángmù chóngbài bèi chēng wéi "hā hán" xiànxiàng.

This kind of blind admiration is called the "Korea-craze" phenomenon.

对于这个提议,他只是不置可否地了一声。

Duìyú zhège tíyì, tā zhǐshì bùzhìkěfǒu de hā le yì shēng.

Regarding this proposal, he just gave a noncommittal grunt.