# 哎 (āi): hey! | HSK 5 Vocabulary | HSKReady

Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-5/ai-2001
Language: en
Content ID: hsk-5-2001
HSK levels: 5
Updated: 2026-10-23T04:41:00.579Z
Scope: approved public sample; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app.

Learn 哎 (āi), HSK 5: hey!; (interjection expressing surprise or disapproval). Hear standard pronunciation and read a Chinese example with its English meaning.

# 哎

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-5-2001/word.mp3)

āi

hey!; (interjection expressing surprise or disapproval)

HSK 5

## Pronunciation

哎āi1

First tone: high and level

First tone: high and level

Tone marks follow the source pinyin. Listen to the complete word to practise connected pronunciation.

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-5-2001/word.mp3)

## Usage in this example

Used as an interjection expressing surprise or disapproval, such as calling out when asking why someone is late again.

## Example sentence

哎呀，你怎么又迟到了！

Āi yā, nǐ zěnme yòu chídào le!

Hey! Why are you late again?

[Audio](https://mvuhmsljbsfgkpkmibuz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/item-assets/vocab/hsk-5-2001/ex-0.mp3)

### Read and choose an answer

One fixed sample

[Explore a sample](https://hskready.app/en/learn/question-types/r11-passage-choice)

## Related vocabulary

[**安装**ānzhuāngto install; to mount; to set up](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-5/anzhuang-2008)[**包含**bāohánto contain; to include; to embody](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-5/baohan-2016)[**薄**báothin; light; insubstantial; scant](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-5/bao-2019)[Vocabulary HSK 5](https://hskready.app/en/vocabulary/hsk-5)

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