what is aiya in chinese?
aiya; ah; oh; ugh; ouch (expressing surprise, annoyance, pain, frustration, sarcasm, etc.)
Most practically, it can also be used to mitigate and ease a tense situation. Below we list the many ways in which this wonderfully versatile and rather addictive little phrase can be used.
Ah; oh; ugh; ouch; why; damn; my god; gosh; hey!
哎哟，唉哟，哎唷，唉唷 āi yō，啊呀 ā ya
哎呀妈呀 āiya māya Mamma mia! (to emphasize the emotion)
哎呀我的天呐 āiyā wǒ de tiān nà Oh my god! (to show shock or extreme surprise)
To show annoyance:
哎呀，蚊子太多了！āiyā, wénzi tài duō le!
Ugh, there are too many mosquitoes!
To show admiration:
哎呀，你的钢琴弹得太好了！āiyā, nǐ de gāngqín dàn dé tài hǎole!
Wow, you play the piano so well!
To show agreement or positivity:
哎呀，这个主意不错！āiyā, zhège zhǔyì bùcuò!
Ah, that’s a great idea!
To show amazement:
哎呀！ 这南瓜长得好大呀！āiyā! zhè nánguā zhǎng dé hào dà ya!
Wow, this pumpkin is huge!
To show blame:
哎呀，你怎么搞的？āiyā, nǐ zěnme gǎo de?
Hey! What’s wrong with you?
哎呀，你怎么来这么晚？āiyā, nǐ zěnme lái zhème wǎn?
Hey, why are you so late?
To show embarrassment:
哎呀，过奖了！āiyā, guòjiǎngle!
Ah, I’m flattered!
To show dissatisfaction:
哎呀，这个电影真不怎么样，简直是浪费时间！āiyā, zhège diànyǐng zhēn bù zěnme yàng, jiǎnzhí shì làngfèi shíjiān!
Oh, it’s a terrible movie. What a waste of time!
To show frustration:
哎呀，我又忘带钥匙了。āiyā, wǒ yòu wàng dài yàoshi le.
Shit, I forget my keys again.
To show impatience:
哎呀，你就少说两句吧！āiyā, nǐ jiù shǎo shuō liǎng jù ba!
Hey, shut up!
To show modesty:
哎呀，这不全是我一个人的功劳! āiyā, zhè bùquán shì wǒ yīgè rén de gōngláo.
Ah, I can’t take all the credit!
To show pain:
哎呀妈呀，疼死我了! āiyā mā ya, téng sǐ wǒ le!
Ow, it hurts so much!
To show sarcasm:
哎呀，没想到你还挺有同情心的嘛！āiyā, méi xiǎngdào nǐ hái tǐng yǒu tóngqíng xīn de ma!
Ah, I didn't expect you to have so much sympathy!
To show surprise:
哎呀，没想到这么巧！āiyā, méi xiǎngdào zhème qiǎo!
Wow, what a coincidence!
To show shock:
哎呀我的天呐，没想到事情发生得这么突然！āiyā wǒ de tiān nà, méi xiǎngdào shìqíng fāshēng dé zhème túrán!
Oh my god, I didn't expect things to happen so suddenly!
To show wonder:
哎呀，他这是怎么了？āiyā, tā zhè shì zěnmeliǎo?
Oh, what happened to him?
To get attention:
哎呀，快来看呀！āiyā, kuài lái kàn ya!
Hey, come here!
For general exclamations:
哎呀，这件事情可千万不能让外人知道！āiyā, zhè jiàn shìqíng kě qiān wàn bùnéng ràng wàirén zhīdào!
Oh my god, keep this to yourself, please!
To mitigate a negation:
哎呀，这事儿也不能全怪他。 āiyā, zhè shì er yě bùnéng quán guài tā.
Alas, he is not the only one to blame.
To mitigate a tense situation:
哎呀，多大点事！āiyā, duōdà diǎn shì!
C'mon, it's not a big deal!
哎呀，这也是没办法的事！āiyā, zhè yěshì méi bànfǎ de shì!
Alas, there are no better options!
To whinge or 撒娇 sājiāo (in this case can be pronounced as rising tone āiyá):
哎呀，你就陪我一起去吧！āiyá, nǐ jiù péi wǒ yīqǐ qù ba!
Please, come with me!
READ: Navigating the Mental Minefield That is Chinese Kinship Terms
