Usage note
哎表示打招呼、提醒或惊讶。
āi biǎo shì dǎ zhāo hū 、 tí xǐng huò jīng yà。
哎 is used to call someone, remind them, or show surprise.
Context note
哎很口语化，常在对话中出现。
āi hěn kǒu yǔ huà， cháng zài duì huà zhōng chū xiàn。
It is very spoken and often appears in conversation.
5 examples
哎，你在这里啊。
āi， nǐ zài zhè lǐ a。
Hey, you are here.
哎，请等一下。
āi， qǐng děng yí xià。
Hey, please wait a moment.
哎，我知道了。
āi， wǒ zhī dào le。
Oh, I see.
哎，别忘了带书。
āi， bié wàng le dài shū。
Hey, do not forget to bring the book.
哎，这样不行。
āi， zhè yàng bù xíng。
Hey, this will not work.
5 mini stories
哎，你听见了吗？
āi， nǐ tīng jiàn le ma？
Hey, did you hear that?
哎，老师在叫你。
āi， lǎo shī zài jiào nǐ。
Hey, the teacher is calling you.
他看到朋友就说，哎，好久不见。
tā kàn dào péng yǒu jiù shuō， āi， hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn。
He saw his friend and said, hey, long time no see.
哎，先别走。
āi， xiān bié zǒu。
Hey, do not leave yet.
孩子们一边跑一边喊，哎，等等我。
hái zi men yì biān pǎo yì biān hǎn， āi， děng děng wǒ。
The children ran while shouting, hey, wait for me.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
唉
āi
alas; sigh
唉 is a sad sigh; 哎 is a lighter call or greeting sound.
similar
喂
wèi
hello (on phone); hey
喂 is used to get attention, especially on the phone.