唉
Character learning workspace

āi / ài · alas

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 5HSK 3.0 · Level 5Frequency #2512
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Learn every stroke in 唉

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

唉 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

āi

interjection or grunt of agreement or recognition (e.g. yes, it's me!); to sigh

唉唉āi āi ·
ài

alas; oh dear

Step-by-step explorer

See how 唉 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

10Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

口Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 唉 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 唉 sits in each complete thought.

Ài! wǒ de diàn nǎo yòu dāng jī le.唉!我的電腦又當機了。

Argh! My computer froze up again.

Source: Tatoeba #701207 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Ài ya! wǒ chà diǎn wàng jì le!唉呀!我差點忘記了!

Oh, no! I almost forgot!

Source: Tatoeba #1780741 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ mén de xiān qū zhě zhōng xū duō huán huó zhù ... dàn shì, ài, qí zhōng yǒu xū duō yǐ jīng sǐ le.我們的先驅者中許多還活著...但是,唉,其中有許多已經死了。

Many of our pioneers are still alive... but, alas, many of them aren't alive any more.

Source: Tatoeba #818169 · CC BY 2.0 FR
「 ài, suàn le ba,」 dí mǎ xīn xiǎng:「 zhè shí zài bú shì tiāo sān tiāo sì de shí hòu.」「唉,算了吧,」狄馬心想:「這實在不是挑三挑四的時候。」

"Oh, well..." thought Dima. "I suppose that I can't be picky at a time like this."

Source: Tatoeba #1618923 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Ài yō wèi a!唉唷喂啊!

Whoopsie!

Source: Tatoeba #13112127 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 唉 in context

  1. Say āi / ài, then recall the core meaning: alas.
  2. Write all 10 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 唉姐 (āi jiě), meaning “granny”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 唉 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.