Definitions

hēi (interjection) hey; hi

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound: the mouth radical on the left indicates an association with vocal sounds, while the component on the right provides the pronunciation. It primarily serves as an interjection comparable to English "hey", used to call attention, express mild surprise, or indicate a laugh or chuckle. The character also carries a contrasting meaning of "quiet" or "silent", appearing in compounds that denote speechlessness or keeping a secret, thus embodying a duality between expressive sound and its absence.

Example Sentences Hide

,快来看看!

Hēi, kuài lái kàn kàn!

Hey, come and take a look!

,你在干什么?

Hēi, nǐ zài gàn shénme?

Hey, what are you doing?

,别那么大声!

Hēi, bié nàme dà shēng!

Hey, don't be so loud!

地笑了。

Tā hēi hēi de xiào le.

He chuckled.

,这件事真奇怪!

Hēi, zhè jiàn shì zhēn qíguài!

Hey, this matter is really strange!

了一声打招呼。

Wǒ hēi le yī shēng dǎ zhāohu.

I said "hey" to greet.

笑着不说话。

Tā hēi hēi xiào zhe bù shuō huà.

He chuckled without speaking.

,你听说过那个新闻吗?

Hēi, nǐ tīng shuō guò nàge xīnwén ma?

Hey, have you heard about that news?