How to Say ‘Oh dear / come on’ in Traditional Chinese
哎呀
āi yā
[eye-yah]
🇹🇼 In Taiwan: [哎呀] can sound like brushing off a complaint, depending on tone. In a taxi dispute, it may feel evasive or overly casual rather than apologetic.
Phrase Breakdown
哎呀
āi yā
[eye-yah]
oh no; oh; ah
An exclamation showing surprise, embarrassment, or mild frustration.
哎呀，我忘了先看導航。
Oh no, I forgot to check the navigation first.
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