嘿
hēi
Hey
嘿 (hēi) is a casual interjection in Mandarin Chinese, similar to “hey” in English. It’s primarily used to get someone’s attention or to express mild surprise.
What does 嘿 (hēi) mean?
嘿 (hēi) means “hey” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “hey sound.”
When to use it
Very casual. Use it among close friends, family, or people you know well. It’s not appropriate for formal situations or when addressing strangers or superiors. For a general “hello,” use 你好 (nǐ hǎo). For getting attention from a distance or on the phone, 喂 (wèi) is more common.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “HAY” (as in hay bale). It’s a sharp, falling (fourth) tone.
Other ways to say it
- 嗨hāihi / hey (casual greeting)
- 喂wèihey (to get attention, on phone)
- 哎āihey / oh (interjection for attention or surprise)
Examples
嘿，你在干什么呢？
hēi, nǐ zài gàn shénme ne?
Hey, what are you doing?
嘿，看这边！
hēi, kàn zhè biān!
Hey, look over here!
嘿，好久不见！
hēi, hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn!
Hey, long time no see!
Pro tip: While both 嘿 (hēi) and 嗨 (hāi) can translate to “hey/hi,” 嘿 is more often used to grab someone’s attention or express a slight surprise, whereas 嗨 is a more straightforward casual greeting.
Related phrases
宝贝 · Bae中国，早上好！ · Good morning china早上好，你最近怎么样？ · Good morning how are you
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