hey

IPA/heɪ/
KK[hˈe]IPA/heɪ/

hey — 感嘆詞

1. a word you call out when you want someone to look at you or listen to you — depe

1.感嘆詞A1
釋義

喂

用於引起他人注意

a word you call out when you want someone to look at you or listen to you — depending on your tone and the situation, it can sound neutral, urgent, or rude.

例句

Hey, Otis! Wait for me — I need to ask you something.

喂，Otis！等我一下——我有事要問你。

used neutrally to call a friend by name

Hey, could you keep your voice down? The baby is asleep.

喂，可以小聲一點嗎？寶寶在睡覺。

requesting quiet; can sound impatient if spoken sharply

常見搭配
  • hey + you
  • hey + name
  • hey + there
同義詞
  • oi

    British/Commonwealth; much ruder and more confrontational

  • yo

    very informal, used among friends; common in US slang

  • excuse me

    polite and neutral; appropriate for strangers and formal contexts

文法句型

hey + [clause / noun phrase that names the person you are calling]

用法筆記

Tone of voice changes the politeness level greatly. A loud or sharp 'hey' can sound angry or rude, while a softer one can be friendly. This word is very informal and should not be used in formal writing or polite letters.

常見錯誤

Hey, I am writing to apply for the position.
Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to apply for the position.
'hey' is too casual for formal letters or job applications.
Hey, sir, may I help you?
Excuse me, sir, may I help you?
'hey' can sound rude when speaking to someone you do not know in a service setting.

2. a friendly, relaxed way of saying hello to someone you know, used when you meet

2.感嘆詞A1
釋義

嘿

非正式打招呼用語

a friendly, relaxed way of saying hello to someone you know, used when you meet them or start a conversation.

例句

Hey, Élise! Long time no see — how was your trip to Japan?

嘿，Élise！好久不見——妳的日本之旅怎麼樣？

greeting a friend after a long absence

Hey, how is it going? Do you want to grab coffee later?

嘿，最近怎麼樣？要不要一起去喝杯咖啡？

常見搭配
  • hey + there
  • hey + everyone
  • say hey to [someone]
同義詞
  • hi

    slightly more neutral than 'hey'; works in semi-formal settings

  • hello

    neutral and polite; appropriate for almost any situation

  • yo

    very informal slang; used mostly among younger speakers

反義詞
  • goodbye

    the opposite function — ending a conversation instead of starting one

文法句型

hey + [noun phrase / question / clause]

用法筆記

Use 'hey' only with people you know well — friends, family, or close colleagues. It sounds too casual for a boss, a teacher, or someone you have never met before. 'Hello' or 'hi' are safer choices in those situations.

常見錯誤

Hey, Professor Chen. May I ask a question?
Hello, Professor Chen. May I ask a question?
'hey' is too informal when addressing a teacher or superior.
Hey, nice to meet you.
Hello, nice to meet you.
'hey' sounds odd when meeting someone for the first time.
慣用語

what the hey!

idiom

Used to show that you are not worried about a possible problem or that you are willing to take a risk.

管他的！

Mina decided to skip her homework and go out, what the hey!

Brian thought, "What the hey! I'll ask for a raise anyway."