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哦 (ò) — oh (expressing understanding, realization, or mild surprise)

Definition

哦 marks a calm 'oh' of realization or mild surprise — softer and more neutral than 啊 or 呀, which carry stronger emotion. Often stretches to ò ò ò for 'I see, I see.'

interjection
oh (expressing understanding, realization, or mild surprise)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 哦，。
    ò, Yuán lái shì zhè yàng.
    Oh, so that's how it is.
  • 哦，。
    ò, Wǒ míng bai le.
    Oh, I understand now.
  • 哦，？
    ò, Nǐ hái méi chī fàn a?
    Oh, you haven't eaten yet?

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
我
我wǒ哦é
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

哦 combines 口 (mouth; speech) with 我, which supplies the sound.

Appears in
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