嗨哟 (hāi yō) — (interjection) heave-ho, yo-heave-ho (a work chant for coordinated group effort)

Definition

嗨哟 (hāi yō) is a rhythmic work chant shouted together when many people pull, lift, or push something heavy. It has no real meaning on its own — it just sets the timing for a shared effort.

interjection
heave-hoyo-heave-ho (a work chant for coordinated group effort)

Examples

  • 嗨哟！！
    hāi yō! Dà jiā yòng lì lā!
    Heave-ho! Everyone pull hard!
  • 嗨哟，。
    hāi yō, Bǎ tā jǔ qǐ lái.
    Heave-ho, lift it up.
  • 嗨哟！。
    hāi yō! Wǒ men yí dìng néng bān dòng tā.
    Heave-ho! We can definitely move it.

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; speech
Sound part声符shēngfú
海
海hǎi嗨hāi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

嗨 puts 口, a mouth for speech, beside 海, which gives the sound.

Open 嗨 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 哟 →

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