哀 āi sad
sad; mournful; pitiful
How to remember 哀: 亠 lid + 口 mouth + 𧘇 dress = sad. At the funeral the widow lifts the lid of the piano, presses a hand to her mouth, smooths her black dress and plays something sad.
Component breakdown
哀 = 亠 lid + 口 mouth + 𧘇 dress
- 亠 lid
- 口 mouth
- 𧘇 dress
At the funeral the widow lifts the lid of the piano, presses a hand to her mouth, smooths her black dress and plays something sad.
How it is used
- Grief and mourning - 悲哀 (bēi'āi) sorrowful, 哀悼 (āidào) to mourn, 默哀 (mò'āi) a moment of silent mourning.
- Also to plead pitifully - 哀求 (āiqiú) to beg imploringly, 哀号 (āiháo) to wail.
- In 喜怒哀乐 (xǐ-nù-āi-lè), the 哀 is 'sorrow' among the four basic emotions.