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はい. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
はい, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
はい in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
はい you have here. The definition of the word
はい will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
はい, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Japanese
Etymology 1
Ultimate derivation currently unknown, with various resources listing no etymology.[1][2][3][4] Theories include:
- Perhaps related to interjection は (ha, “yes”), which first appears in the early 1600s.[5]
- Alternatively, may derive from Cantonese 係/系 (hai6), or perhaps from Sino-Japanese 拝 (hai), but this theory is not academically accepted. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)
First cited as a general shout in the early 1600s (compare English hey),[1] with the affirmative yes sense first cited to 1774.[1]
Pronunciation
Interjection
はい • (hai)
- yes; okay; understood, got it; here, present; right, so (agreement); uh-huh (acknowledgement that one is listening)
- はい、承知しました。
- Hai, shōchi shimashita.
- Yes, understood.
- 「もしもし、木村さんですか?」「はい、木村です。」
- “Moshimoshi, Kimura-san desu ka?”“Hai, Kimura desu.”
- "Hello, is this Mr./Ms. Kimura?" "Yes, Kimura speaking."
- はい、何でしょうか。
- Hai, nan deshō ka.
- Yes? What is it?
- はい。はい。はい。なるほど、なるほど。
- Hai. Hai. Hai. Naruhodo, naruhodo.
- Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yes. Mmm, I see.
- no (in response to negative questions); agree
- 今日は雨だから、ピクニックには行けませんね?はい、行けません。
- Kyō wa ame da kara, pikunikku ni wa ikemasen ne? Hai, ikemasen.
- It's raining today so we can't go on a picnic? No, we can't go.
- sorry? (What did you say?)
- はい?何ですって?
- Hai? Nan desu tte?
- I'm sorry? Could you repeat that?
- general shout or call, compare English hey: go, start; stop, time's up (expressing a timing)
- 1、2、3、はい!
- Ichi, ni, san, hai!
- 1, 2, 3, go!
- はい、そこまで。
- Hai, soko made.
- OK, let's stop here.
- はいおわりー。
- Hai owarī.
- Hey, we're done.
- (sentence-final) used to express mild uncertainty
- そうだと思います、はい。
- Sō da to omoimasu, hai.
- I believe so, yes.
Usage notes
Used in a variety of contexts, including:
- “present” – when calling attendance
- “go ahead” – when a car or truck is backing up; often said deeply with extended ‘a’ sound as in はあ〜い (hāāi)
- “yes, I understand what you are saying (but don’t necessarily agree)”
Synonyms
- (informal) ああ (ā), うん (un)
- (informal but still polite) ええ (ē)
- (archaic) しかり (shikari), 応 (ō)
Antonyms
- いいえ (īe, “no”)
- (informal) ううん (ūn, “uh-uh”)
Etymology 2
For pronunciation and definitions of はい – see the following entries.
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(This term, はい (hai), is the hiragana spelling of the above terms.) For a list of all kanji read as はい, see Category:Japanese kanji read as はい.)
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(The following entries are uncreated: 珮, 拝.)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 “はい”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
- ^ “はい”, in デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
- ^ Shinmura, Izuru, editor (1998), 広辞苑 [Kōjien] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, →ISBN
- ^ “は”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
Okinawan
Interjection
はい (hai)
- (gender-neutral) hello
- Synonyms: (men's speech) はいさい (haisai), (women's speech) はいたい (haitai)