Interjections - 喂
叹词 — 喂
The interjection 喂 (wèi) is mainly used for answering the phone (« Allô ») or to call someone.
Structure
喂？ (on the phone) 喂 + phrase (call)
Elements
喂
How to use it
- On the phone: 喂？你好！(Allô ? Bonjour !).
- To call: 喂，等一下！(Hé, attends !).
Examples
喂？你好，请问你是谁？
wèi？ nǐ hǎo， qǐngwèn nǐ shì shéi?
Allô ? Bonjour, qui est à l'appareil ?
喂，请问是小王吗？
wèi, qǐngwèn shì xiǎo wáng ma?
Allô, c'est Xiao Wang ?
妈妈在喂孩子吃饭。
Māma zài wèi háizi chīfàn.
The mother feeds the child.
每天早上他都去喂鸽子。
Měi tiān zǎoshang tā dōu qù wèi gēzi.
Every morning, he feeds the pigeons.
Notes and exceptions
- 喂 on the phone is standard and polite (descendant wèi).
- Crying 喂 to someone in the street can seem abrupt.
- 喂: allô; hé ! (interjection). Common combinations observed: 吗 (interrogation).
Common mistakes
- Don't abuse 喂 to call: it's too direct.
Practice quiz
Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.
1. ____？你好，请问你是谁？
(Allô ? Bonjour, qui est à l'appareil ?)
2. ____，请问是小王吗？
(Allô, c'est Xiao Wang ?)
3. 妈妈在____孩子吃饭。
(The mother feeds the child.)
4. 每天早上他都去____鸽子。
(Every morning, he feeds the pigeons.)