wèi: 喂 - Hello (on the phone), Hey, To feed

Keywords: wei pinyin, wei Chinese character, meaning of 喂, how to say hello on the phone in Chinese, Chinese for hey, wei vs nihao, wei to feed, HSK 1 Chinese, 喂养, 接电话

Summary: Learn the multiple meanings of the common Chinese word 喂 (wèi). While it's famously known as the standard “Hello?” for answering phone calls in China, it's also used informally as “Hey!” to get someone's attention. Furthermore, 喂 (wèi) is a verb meaning “to feed” an animal or a person. This guide covers all its uses, from answering the phone to feeding your cat, helping you avoid common mistakes like using it as a general greeting.

Pinyin (with tone marks): wèi / wéi

Part of Speech: Interjection, Verb

HSK Level: HSK 1

Concise Definition: An interjection used to start a phone call or get attention, and a verb meaning to feed.

In a Nutshell: 喂 (wèi) is a versatile and context-dependent word. Its most common use for a learner is as the Chinese equivalent of “Hello?” when you pick up the phone. It's not a general greeting like `你好 (nǐ hǎo)`. It can also be used like “Hey!” or “Oi!” to grab someone's attention, which can be informal or even rude depending on your tone. Finally, it has a completely different but common meaning as a verb: “to feed.”

The combination suggests an action done with the mouth (口), with the sound “wèi” (from 畏). This neatly covers both its use as a spoken interjection and as the action of putting food into a mouth (feeding).

The “Phone-Only” Hello: The most critical cultural point to understand is that 喂 (wèi) is fundamentally different from the English “Hello.” While “Hello” can be used on the phone, in person, or in writing, 喂 (wèi) is reserved almost exclusively for phone calls. Answering the phone with `你好 (nǐ hǎo)` is possible but much less common and can sound a bit formal or even like a customer service line. 喂 (wèi) is the natural, default way to answer a personal call.

Tone is Everything: When used to get attention, the politeness of 喂 (wèi) is 100% dependent on tone and context. A sharp, loud `Wèi!` (喂!) is like shouting “Hey, you!” and can be considered rude or aggressive. A softer, questioning `Wèi?` (喂?) to a friend who seems distracted is perfectly normal. This contrasts with Western culture where “Hey” is a very common and generally neutral informal greeting. In China, using `喂` to greet someone you know face-to-face is highly unusual; `你好` or their name is standard.

A Sign of Action: The verb usage “to feed” connects to core cultural values of nurturing and care, especially in the context of family (feeding a baby) and responsibility (feeding a pet).

Answering the Phone: This is its primary and most common usage. It's often said with a rising tone, like a question: `Wéi?` (喂?). This single word simultaneously means “Hello,” “I've answered,” and “Who is this?”.

Getting Someone's Attention: Used to call out to someone who can't hear you or isn't paying attention. It's very direct. For example, if someone drops their wallet, you might shout `Wèi!` to get them to stop. Among close friends, it can be a casual “Hey!”

As a Verb (To Feed): This usage is completely unrelated to greetings and is extremely common in daily life. You use it for feeding pets, babies, or even helping an elderly or sick person eat.

CRITICAL MISTAKE: Never use `喂 (wèi)` for a face-to-face greeting. This is the number one error learners make. Walking up to someone and saying `喂` is like shouting “Oi!” at them. It's jarring and can be perceived as very rude. For in-person greetings, always use `你好 (nǐ hǎo)`, `您好 (nín hǎo)`, or the person's name/title.

`Wèi` vs. `Wéi`: The tone matters. A falling tone, `wèi!`, is a command or a shout for attention. A rising tone, `wéi?`, is a question, typically used on the phone to mean “Hello? Are you there?”.

“False Friend”: `喂 (wèi)` is not “Hello”. While it's the translation in the specific context of a phone call, it doesn't share the broad usage of “Hello.” Think of it as “Phone-Hello.”

你好 (nǐ hǎo) - The standard, all-purpose greeting for “hello.” The proper choice for face-to-face interactions.

接电话 (jiē diànhuà) - A verb phrase meaning “to answer the phone.” This is the action you perform when you say `喂`.

打电话 (dǎ diànhuà) - A verb phrase meaning “to make a phone call.”

吃 (chī) - To eat. The action performed by the person or animal being fed (`喂`).

喂养 (wèiyǎng) - To feed, raise, or rear (an animal, a child). A slightly more formal or comprehensive term than just `喂`.

打招呼 (dǎ zhāohu) - The general verb for “to greet” or “to say hello.”

嘿 (hēi) - “Hey.” A direct loanword from English, used casually and playfully among friends, often online. It doesn't carry the potentially rude connotation of `喂`.

哎 (āi) - An interjection used to get someone's attention or to show surprise or remembrance. It's often softer and less abrupt than `喂`.