哎呀 āiyā interjection of wonder, shock or admiration
How to remember 哎呀: 哎 interjection of surprise + 呀 ah = interjection of wonder, shock or admiration.
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How it is used
- An interjection of surprise, dismay, or mild exasperation - 哎呀，我忘了！(āiyā, wǒ wàng le!) Oh no, I forgot!
- Very colloquial; tone/context sets whether it's shock, admiration, or 'ugh'. Sentence-initial.
- Compare 哎呦 (āiyō, more for pain/wow) and 唉 (āi, a sigh of resignation) - different feelings.