Chinese–EnglishWith examples

哎

āi · ai

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. hey!
  2. (interjection used to attract attention or to express surprise or disapprobation)
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In a conversation

0:22 cartoon

Shoes on wrong feet

  1. Liangliang

    哎(āi)，灯灯(dēngdēng)，你(nǐ)的(de)鞋(xié)穿反(chuānfǎn)了(le)！

    Hey, Dengdeng, you have your shoes on the wrong feet!

  2. Dengdeng

    哎(āi)？真的(zhēnde)吗(ma)？怪不得(guàibude)我(wǒ)走路(zǒulù)有点(yǒudiǎn)奇怪(qíguài)。

    Huh? Really? No wonder I walk a bit strangely.

  3. Liangliang

    快(kuài)换过来(huànguòlái)吧(ba)，别(bié)摔倒(shuāidǎo)。

    Quick, switch them, so you don't fall.

  4. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)。哎(āi)，等等(děngděng)，亮亮(liàngliàng)，你(nǐ)的(de)鞋(xié)也(yě)穿反(chuānfǎn)了(le)！

    OK. Hey, wait, Liangliang, your shoes are on the wrong feet too!

  5. Liangliang

    哎(āi)？我(wǒ)的(de)……哎呀(āiyā)，真的(zhēnde)！

    Huh? Mine... oh no, it's true!

  6. Dengdeng

    我们(wǒmen)早上(zǎoshang)都(dōu)太(tài)急(jí)了(le)。

    We were both in too much of a hurry this morning.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

哎(āi)，今(jīn)天(tiān)真(zhēn)丢(diū)人(rén)，我(wǒ)把(bǎ)衣(yī)服(fu)穿(chuān)反(fǎn)了(le)。

Argh, I was so embarrassed today. I wore my clothes inside-out.

Tatoeba: Chinese by trieuho · English by trieuho · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

哎(āi)，马(mǎ)上(shàng)就(jiù)要(yào)考(kǎo)试(shì)了(le)。我(wǒ)死(sǐ)定(dìng)了(le)！

Ah, it's almost time for exams. I'm dead!

Tatoeba: Chinese by trieuho · English by trieuho · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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