interj.
A shouted call used to summon or catch someone's attention. The universal phone greeting "hello!" and the casual "hey!" to get someone's notice. A mouth (口) opening wide to call out "weì!" across the room or down the line.
喂
v.
to feed
Common Usage & Traps
- 喂？ — Hello? (on the phone, checking if someone is there)
- 喂，你好 — Hello, hi (phone greeting)
- 喂，是我 — Hey, it's me (on the phone)
- 喂，听得到吗？ — Hello, can you hear me?
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喂，你好 (to a neighbor in person)你好In person, 喂 sounds like 'hey you' and can be rude. It is mainly for phone calls.
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喂 (in a WeChat message)在吗？ or 你好Typing 喂 as a hello feels abrupt and phone-like. Use a normal text opener.
Why do Chinese people answer the phone with just 喂 instead of 你好?
On the phone, 喂 is the default hello; 你好 can sound stiff or face-to-face.
On a phone call, 喂 is usually the normal first word. It quickly checks that the line is open and signals you are listening. 你好 is not wrong, but it sounds formal or like a face-to-face greeting. With friends, family, and coworkers, 喂 is usually what people expect. You can add 你好 after 喂 if you want to be polite. “我的男朋友打电话给我：“喂？”” (My boyfriend called me: 'Hello?') ── [《吃的东西和喝的东西》](/read/buying-food-drinks#s3)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Answering a friend | 喂？ | 你好？ |
| Calling a coworker | 喂，是我 | 你好，我是... |
| Face-to-face greeting | 你好 | 喂 |
Can you use 喂 to greet someone in person or in a WeChat message?
Outside a call, 喂 sounds like 'hey you' and can be rude.
喂 is mainly for phone calls, not for normal greetings. It can also get someone's attention, like shouting 'Hey!' But to a stranger, neighbor, or shop worker, it often sounds rude. In person, use 你好 for a normal greeting or 不好意思 to get attention. In WeChat, 喂 can feel abrupt, so try 在吗？ or 你好 instead.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting a neighbor | 你好 | 喂 |
| Getting a waiter's attention | 你好 / 不好意思 | 喂 |
| WeChat message opener | 在吗？ / 你好 | 喂 |
Featured in Story Deep Dive
Follow how this word unfolds across the narrative arc of this graded story.
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
- Scene #1
我的男朋友打电话给我：“ 喂 ？
- Scene #2
我男友说：“ 喂 ！
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