haai1欬
Jyutpinghaai1
Yalehāai
Definition
An exclamation used to express sorrow, regret, or a sigh.
datedemotioncommunication
How it's used
This character is a literary or archaic way to represent the sighing sound commonly written as 嗨. While it appears in older texts or specific written styles to convey a sense of heavy regret or lamentation, it is rarely used in modern text messaging or casual speech. Most speakers will opt for 唉 or 嗨 to express the same feeling of disappointment.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
sighing and groaning
Common mistake
Learners should avoid using this in casual digital communication as it may appear overly formal or archaic. It is easily confused with 咳, which means to cough, so ensure the context clearly indicates an emotional sigh rather than a physical ailment.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
