# Explanation of "Aiya!" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 18, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900 "2002-03-18T18:08:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/1 "2002-03-18T18:08:05Z")
I originally used “aiya!” in the thread about **Kyomara**'s banning. If he/she reads this, welcome back, by the way; even though I don’t know you! (I was going to post that in the other thread, but it was closed by the time I got to it) Since I thought people might not understand it, here’s an explanation. > [@](#): > > An interesting look at a phrase that is completely second nature to me. > > Enjoy! > Ai-Ya! – A must-read for all Chinese people > > I had a craving for a sweet taste of childhood the other day, so I went shopping for some moy. I was putting said treat into my cart and looking for my Ranch 99 VIP card, when a woman with three kids in two ran into my cart. At that moment, both of us said, “Aiya.” The children giggled, she apologized, and I quickly replied. “M’sai… No apology needed.” Although it was a minor exchange, I later realized that Aiya is more than just two characters; it is part of the spirit of being Chinese…in a moment of surprise, I could have said just about anything – my reaction was to say Aiya. I was surprised that I would instinctively use my mother’s tongue because I’ve always known that I don’t speak Cantonese well. No matter how far removed I’ve become as an American, there is something at my core that is Chinese. > > I decided to conduct informal research about Aiya. First, I went to a national bookstore chain to review its Chinese language materials. I thumbed through all the Chinese language materials, but couldn’t find any vocabulary drill including Aiya. Seeing that the publishers of tourist books were not going to be helpful, I decided to observe its use in the community. I clipped my cell phone to my belt, grabbed a couple of pink bakery boxes and sat around San Francisco’s Portsmouth Square drinking 7-Up and eating dim sum. Lo and behold, I heard Aiya used in a variety of ways. Based on my personal experience and this observation, I’ve developed a personal understanding of Aiya. > > Aiya is 24-carat Chinese gold. Aiya is more than just two characters; it is part of the spirit of being Chinese and may even go back to antiquity. It is used wherever the Chinese have been in the diaspora of the last sesquicentennial. > > How you say Aiya can say volumes about your state of mind. For example, when the problem is minor, I can say “Aiya” in a short/curt manner. However, when I am extremely stressed, I can draw it out to nearly five seconds. I’m planning an experiment where I get a room full of people to meditate using it as a mantra. With practice, I might get them to draw out Aiya even longer. > > To explain more deeply how to use Aiya, imagine a worker slaving on the Great Wall when he accidentally drops a brick (a quickie Aiya)… on the work foreman (“Aiya!!”)… which gets him thrown into the wall to perish an agonizing death (“AIYA!!!”). > > As you read the following ways Aiya can be used, the mental image to solicit is to picture any of the mothers from Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. For those who have met anyone in my family, you can picture one of my relatives instead: > > Surprise: “Aiya! A surprise party for me?” > > Joy: “Aiya! You got 5 out of 6 in Lotto!” > > Distaste: “You expect me to drink that herbal medical concoction of yours? Aiya!” > > Doubt: “Do I have to wear that lemon yellow/lime green sweater my mother made? I wonder if she would notice if I ‘accidentally’ donated it to Goodwill? Aiya.” > > Awe: “Your son got accepted into Harvard Law School?! Aiya!” > > Irritation: “Clean your room. Aiya! Why do you live like a pig?” > > Great astonishment: “Aiya! She switched majors from Business to Art History!” > > Disapproval: “Report Card – 5 As, 1 B? Always a B in Math. Aiya.” Actual quote from my mother when I was a sophomore in high school. > > Shock: “What? Ketchup on Yang Chow Fried Rice…Aiya!” > > Lamentation: “Aiya…why me…ungrateful child…Aiya.” Probably what my mother is thinking when she reads this. > > Outrage: “Never clean your rice cooker with that steel scouring pad! Aiya!” > > Verge of internal combustion: “I can’t deal with the family asking when and if I’m getting married! Ai-yaaaaaaaa!” > > Aiya is an all-purpose phrase that comes from deep in the soul. Aiya is both simple and complex: on one hand, it is a couple of Chinese characters; on the other hand, it can be a whole speech describing the state you are in. Aiya says “I’m afraid,” “I’m in pain,” “I don’t believe it.” It is an exclamation of exuberance, a shout of hurt, a cry of fear, and the reflex of being startled, and the embrace of joy. > > It is unfortunate that English has no equivalent to Aiya. It saddens me that American English doesn’t afford me a fun phrase to emote. “Shucks,” “Darn,” and the plethora of swear words cannot convey what Aiya can. So, I’m going to propose that we start an initiative. American English should grab on Aiya or the Yiddish “Oy” for our use. > > So the next time you go to a teahouse for dim sum or decide to go shopping at an Asian market, listen to the lively banter as friends and families meet. It’s a wonderfully vibrant, alive community out there. Who knows, you just might get caught up in the lyrical rhythm of the people. Aiya, what fun! I hope you got it! See you all later on this great message board! ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/2 "2002-03-18T18:57:55Z")
Thank you, **Flamsterette\_X** , that was very informative. I’ve never known the specifics of its usage. My friends, even those who don’t speak their parents’ language fluently, almost all use this expression, but none of them know anything about it other than the varied ways in which it can be used. I also thought it would be worthwhile to note the popular misconception, that it’s spelled ‘aya’ and stands for ‘Angry Yellow Asian,’ which is of course false. ---
**Author:** ![Mondeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Mondeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mondeo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/3 "2002-03-18T20:36:24Z")
Love the explanation! Thank you ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/4 "2002-03-18T21:32:53Z")
**Flamsterette\_X** , a quick question for you, la! I’ve heard Cantonese speakers say “eeeee-yaw” instead of “aiya”, but only in response something sad, frightening, or stomach-turning (violent parts of movies, etc). It seems to have stronger meaning than “aiya”. Is it just “aiya” pronounced differently, or is it a completely different phrase? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/5 "2002-03-18T22:08:43Z")
I (a white boy) use “Aiya!” all the time – I picked it up from my father-in-law. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/6 "2002-03-18T23:18:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cliffy \* > \*\*I (a white boy) use “Aiya!” all the time – I picked it up from my father-in-law. > \*\* I’m another gwei lo with the “aiya!” habit. I’ve often wondered how cool it would be to develop another Esperanto-style international language, but rather than basing it on simplicity and ease of learning, base it on the coolest words and expressions from existing languages. “Aiya!” would be in there, and Yiddish would be heavily represented, as would Cockney rhyming slang, colourful phrases from the American South, maybe an Arabic curse or two. Aiya already! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/7 "2002-03-18T23:23:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\ ***Flamsterette\_X** , a quick question for you, la! > > I’ve heard Cantonese speakers say “eeeee-yaw” instead of “aiya”, but only in response something sad, frightening, or stomach-turning (violent parts of movies, etc). It seems to have stronger meaning than “aiya”. Is it just “aiya” pronounced differently, or is it a completely different phrase? \*\* Hmm… haven’t heard that before, but then it could be that you’re mishearing the “aiya!” part. 😃 Of course, it could be equally possble that it’s just a corruption of the original “aiya!” and so pronounced differently. Probably for those triggers you mentioned (violence, gross stuff, etc.), “aiya!” is not enough! So you have to draw it out and turn it into something else entirely! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/8 "2002-03-18T23:31:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\* > I’m another gwei lo with the “aiya!” habit. > > I’ve often wondered how cool it would be to develop another Esperanto-style international language, but rather than basing it on simplicity and ease of learning, base it on the coolest words and expressions from existing languages. “Aiya!” would be in there, and Yiddish would be heavily represented, as would Cockney rhyming slang, colourful phrases from the American South, maybe an Arabic curse or two. > > Aiya already! 🙂 \*\* Hey, that’s cool! We need to get more people going on this, don’t you think? That language you mentioned would certainly be an interesting hodgepodge, that much is for sure. A verbal smorgasbord, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/9 "2002-03-18T23:51:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by **Cliffy** \* > I (a white boy) use “Aiya!” all the time – I picked it up from my father-in-law. Yeah, but the lesson I have learned with this is you have to be _real_ careful not to use it when you’re with people that don’t belong to your immediate family or your circle of friends. Because letting it slip by accident in public, you can get a lot of strange (and not friendly) looks, let me tell you. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/10 "2002-03-19T00:54:35Z")
My computer crashed on preview. For another take on Aieeyaaa! Check out [www.lilywong.net](http://www.lilywong.net) The World of Lily Wong was created by cartoonist Larry Feign, who kept Hong Kong amused with the antics of a bumbling westerner and his street smart local Lily Wong. Remember, Aieeyaa is a Cantonese thing. Other parts of China don’t use this word or a local variation that is perhaps recognizeable but quite different. For example, the Shanghaiese use “aiyo” with short syllables. When excited, you can hear “aiyo, aiyo, aiyo, aiyo” spat out at a machine gun pace. [hijack]gweilo, although commonly used in HK to refer to Westerners, has negative bias. Eg, gwei is “ghost” or “devil” and _always_ has a negative connotation in Chinese.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/11 "2002-03-19T06:59:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > \*\* > > [hijack]gweilo, although commonly used in HK to refer to Westerners, has negative bias. Eg, gwei is “ghost” or “devil” and _always_ has a negative connotation in Chinese.[/hijack] \*\* **AIYA!!!** **China Guy** hijacked my post! I’ll complain to a moderator! :rolleyes: Just kidding, of course… in my short time on the board, I’m sure I’ve been guilty of that a few times! And yes, I knew what “gweilo” meant… but the others on the board might not! ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/12 "2002-03-19T07:13:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > [hijack]gweilo, although commonly used in HK to refer to Westerners, has negative bias. Eg, gwei is “ghost” or “devil” and _always_ has a negative connotation in Chinese.[/hijack] \*\* I was aware of the literal meaning of “gwei lo”, but I’ve never heard any Cantonese speaker shy away from using “gwei lo” when talking about Westerners. My guess is that it’s such a common phrase that people don’t think of the original meaning, just as English speakers don’t conjure up explicit sexual or scatological imagery when they swear in exclamation. I could be wrong, but if anybody were to get upset, it’d be the Westerner being spoken about. I’ve had Cantonese-speaking friends suddenly stop their conversation and say, “Oh, I hope you don’t mind our calling you ‘gwei lo’”. Of course I didn’t mind - I find actually find it endearing. That’s not to say, of course, that I’d like to be formally introduced as one. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/13 "2002-03-19T07:26:13Z")
Aiya! I love this word! It’s better than “Oy!” or even “Wow!” or the ever-handy “Sheesh!” And I’ve dated enough Asian bois who have used the word on me (both for better and for ill) that I just love it. (Sadly, I’ve picked up a new phrase - “Rock on!” - since moving to California. I’m terribly, terribly sorry…) Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/14 "2002-03-19T07:38:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\* > I was aware of the literal meaning of “gwei lo”, but I’ve never heard any Cantonese speaker shy away from using “gwei lo” when talking about Westerners. My guess is that it’s such a common phrase that people don’t think of the original meaning, just as English speakers don’t conjure up explicit sexual or scatological imagery when they swear in exclamation. > > I could be wrong, but if anybody were to get upset, it’d be the Westerner being spoken about. I’ve had Cantonese-speaking friends suddenly stop their conversation and say, “Oh, I hope you don’t mind our calling you ‘gwei lo’”. Of course I didn’t mind - I find actually find it endearing. That’s not to say, of course, that I’d like to be formally introduced as one. \*\* Well, I wouldn’t think you’d want to be introduced like that… “Hi guys! This is my _gwei lo_ friend!” Sounds rather bizarre to me, at any rate. And as for not conjuring up explicit sexual or scatological images when swearing in exclamation, well… all I have to say about that one is: **I DO IT ALL THE TIME!!!** 😃 😛 :rolleyes: ```php What does this do? ``` Guess I’ll see on preview…always been curious… Never mind, I thought it was the ultra-tiny text font! I think I’ll leave it in, though. ```auto maybe this is it? ``` Time to do another preview…okay, so maybe not… ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/15 "2002-03-19T07:51:06Z")
My sister picked “gwei lo” up from some people she went on tour to Taiwan with. My cousins and I now use it to refer affectionately to my boyfriend. 😃 Since Chinese isn’t our primary language, I suppose it’s hard to imagine how offensive the term actually is. When we go out to Chinese restaurants with the family, my boyfriend always sighs and says jokingly “I’m the only gwei lo here”. And just so this isn’t a complete hijack, he also likes to use “aiya”, followed closely by “zhao gao!” (sp?) ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/16 "2002-03-19T08:04:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kayeby \* > **When we go out to Chinese restaurants with the family, my boyfriend always sighs and says jokingly “I’m the only gwei lo here”.** I came to work one day with a little plastic container full of some extremely Westernised Chinese food I’d picked up at the local shopping mall, and was promptly told (in a friendly way) that it was “gwei lo laap saap (sp?)”, or _white man’s rubbish_. Now, although I really love authentic Chinese food, and I eat it regularly, just on occasion I like to indulge in the cheap and nasty stuff from the “three dishes with rice” kiosks at the mall - I think it should be a recognised cuisine. Damn it, one day I’ll buy one and change the name of the business to “Gwei Lo Laap Saap” (unless some PC govt department stops me). ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/17 "2002-03-19T08:19:30Z")
I’m wondering if “aiya” is the progenitor to the Japanese “ara” because they are used almost identically (and it is kinda funny to use these expressions even if it isn’t your native language, ain’t it. “Ara, where are my keys”). Too bad we can’t type any Chinese characters on this board. Of course the American variation of this is not “f_ck" but “whoa.” CAN you say "f_ck” when you crash into somebody in the super market? I suppose you could… ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/18 "2002-03-19T08:29:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\* > > I came to work one day with a little plastic container full of some extremely Westernised Chinese food I’d picked up at the local shopping mall, and was promptly told (in a friendly way) that it was “gwei lo laap saap (sp?)”, or _white man’s rubbish_. Now, although I really love authentic Chinese food, and I eat it regularly, just on occasion I like to indulge in the cheap and nasty stuff from the “three dishes with rice” kiosks at the mall - I think it should be a recognised cuisine. > > Damn it, one day I’ll buy one and change the name of the business to “Gwei Lo Laap Saap” (unless some PC govt department stops me). \*\* HAHAHAHAHAHA… what a name that would be! I can just imagine a restaurant/kiosk with that name at the mall or Chinese public market we have here… that would be rich! Of course, there are some “Chinese” foods that never originated in China; for example, chop suey. It was meant to appeal to Americans and other non-Chinese people back in the day. Thanks, **TheLoadedDog** , that idea made me laugh out loud, and definitely made me feel better about being flamed (however toungue-in-cheek or sarcastically) by **Crunchy Frog** in the latest incarnation of his Welcome Wagon! Of course, before I got to this thread, I had to post my reply… for which I hope I will not get banned! One thing, though… with a name like that, I’m not sure that your kiosk would do very well! Just like the soya sauce chicken foot Slurpees my friend Eddie always says he’ll make (and devote an eatery to, besides)! We can always dream, though… right?😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/19 "2002-03-19T08:34:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flamsterette\_X \* > **soya sauce chicken foot Slurpees…** :eek: :eek: :eek: (Band name!) And I thought I was brave drinking an avocado milkshake! ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900/20 "2002-03-19T09:04:53Z")
Back to “gweiloh”. It’s a very common expression in HK and Guangdong, but it is not a polite expression. Sure, I use it sometimes, and some of my _Honkie_ friends use it with me. But, at the end of the day, the “gwei” _always_ has a negative connotation. i have also heard it used as an undisguised racial slur, and as a disguised racial slur. I hate to make an analogy with another groups word, but it is somewhat akin to _sometimes_, _some_ people can get away with using the “n” word. Just remember Jackie Chan in Rush Hour in the pool hall. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-aiya/98900.md?page=2)