唉 (āi) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 唉 (āi) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 唉 (āi) means "Alas, oh, or a sigh.". with 10 strokes and the radical 口.

Q: How do you write 唉 stroke by stroke?

唉 has 10 strokes. The radical is 口. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 唉 and 呢?

唉 (āi) and 呢 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 唉?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 口. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 唉?

Common words containing 唉 include: 唉呀 (āi ya) — Oh my or gosh.; 唉 (ài) — Alas, oh, or a sigh.; 唉声叹气 (āi shēng tàn qì) — To sigh and groan..

How to Write 唉

The character 唉 (āi) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 口 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

唉 is pronounced āi in Mandarin Chinese. It means Alas, oh, or a sigh..

This is a polyphonic character with readings: āi, ài.

Common Words with 唉

唉呀 āi ya

Oh my or gosh.

唉 ài

Alas, oh, or a sigh.

唉声叹气 āi shēng tàn qì

To sigh and groan.

Example Sentences

唉呀，我忘了带钥匙。

āi ya wǒ wàng le dài yào shi

Oh no, I forgot to bring my keys.

唉，真可惜。

ài zhēn kě xī

Alas, what a pity.

别总是唉声叹气。

bié zǒng shì āi shēng tàn qì

Don't always sigh and groan.

Similar Characters

呢 ne

呣 ḿ

呤 líng

Practice Writing 唉 (āi)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 唉 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 唉

What does 唉 (āi) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 唉 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 唉 and 呢?

What mistakes do learners make writing 唉?

What common words use 唉?

How to Write 唉 (āi)