嗳

噯
ǎi, ài
口 + 爱

Definitions

ǎi (interjection) interjection of disapproval
ài (interjection) interjection of regret

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 爱 represents the sound. Simplified form of 噯.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 爱

About

The character 嗳 is a phono-semantic compound, with the mouth radical 口 on the left indicating it represents a vocalized interjection or sound. The right side is the phonetic component 爱 (from the traditional form 愛), which contributes only the sound and not its meaning of "love". Functioning as an interjection, 嗳 conveys emotions like regret, dismay, or sudden realization depending on spoken tone. Historically, it has served in writing to capture the nuances of spoken dialogue and emotional exclamations, rather than denoting a concrete object or abstract concept.

Example Sentences Hide

嗳呀，我的书不见了。

Ài yā, wǒ de shū bù jiàn le.

Oh no, my book is missing.

嗳哟，我的脚好痛啊！

Ài yō, wǒ de jiǎo hǎo tòng a!

Ouch, my foot hurts so much!

他吃完饭总是嗳气。

Tā chī wán fàn zǒng shì ài qì.

He always burps after eating.

嗳，你别那么着急嘛。

Ài, nǐ bié nàme zháo jí ma.

Hey, don't be so impatient.

她嗳了一声，表示不同意。

Tā ài le yī shēng, biǎoshì bù tóngyì.

She uttered "ai" to show disagreement.

嗳呀，你怎么能这样说话呢？

Ài yā, nǐ zěnme néng zhèyàng shuōhuà ne?

Oh dear, how can you talk like that?

他嗳气的时候感到有些尴尬。

Tā ài qì de shíhòu gǎndào yǒuxiē gāngà.

He felt somewhat embarrassed when he burped.

嗳，这件事我们还得从长计议。

Ài, zhè jiàn shì wǒmen hái déi cóng cháng jìyì.

Well, this matter we still need to deliberate carefully.

Related Characters

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Component: 爱

暧 嫒 瑷 叆

Example Words

嗳气