唉

āi, ài

口 + 矣

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

āi (interjection) interjection of agreement or recognition

ài (interjection,verb) alas; oh dear; to sigh

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 矣 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 矣

About

唉 is a phono-semantic compound: 口 (mouth) on the left marks it as a vocal sound, while 矣 on the right supplies the pronunciation. The character serves as an interjection, typically a prolonged sigh conveying sadness, disappointment, resignation, or sympathy. Depending on the tone, it can also function as an affirmative response, expressing agreement or reluctant acceptance.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

唉，我迟到了。

Āi, wǒ chídào le.

Oh no, I'm late.

唉，今天又下雨了。

Āi, jīntiān yòu xià yǔ le.

Alas, it's raining again today.

唉，这个任务太难完成了。

Āi, zhège rènwù tài nán wánchéng le.

Sigh, this task is too difficult to complete.

他唉了一声，继续埋头工作。

Tā āi le yì shēng, jìxù mái tóu gōngzuò.

He sighed and continued to bury his head in his work.

唉声叹气解决不了任何问题。

Āi shēng tàn qì jiějué bù liǎo rènhé wèntí.

Sighing and moaning won't solve any problems.

她看着成绩单，连连唉叹。

Tā kàn zhe chéngjìdān, liánlián āi tàn.

Looking at the report card, she sighed repeatedly.

你别总是唉声叹气的，振作起来！

Nǐ bié zǒng shì āi shēng tàn qì de, zhènzuò qǐlái!

Don't keep sighing all the time, cheer up!

面对这种困境，他也只能无奈地唉叹命运不公。

Miàn duì zhè zhǒng kùnjìng, tā yě zhǐ néng wúnài de āi tàn mìngyùn bù gōng.

Faced with this predicament, he could only sigh helplessly at the unfairness of fate.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 矣

唉