啊呀 (ā yā) — (interjection) oh! / ah! / my gosh! (expresses surprise, pain, realization, or urging)

Definition

啊呀 (āyā) is an exclamatory interjection for surprise, sudden pain, or urging someone — a bit stronger and more drawn-out than 啊. Often written as 啊呀 to stress feeling.

interjection
oh! / ah! / my gosh! (expresses surprise, pain, realization, or urging)

Examples

  • 啊呀！。
    ā yā! Wǒ wàng jì dài yào shi le.
    Oh no! I forgot to bring my keys.
  • 啊呀，！
    ā yā, Bié zǒu nà me kuài!
    Hey! Don't walk so fast!
  • 啊呀！。
    ā yā! Tàng sǐ wǒ le.
    Ow! It's burning hot.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
阿
阿ā啊a
Same sound today

啊 is built from 口 (mouth) plus 阿, which provides the sound.

Open 啊 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 呀 →

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