HSK 2
喂
wéi
喂 - Hello (on the phone)
Explanation
喂 is an interjection (a word used to call out or express emotion); when read as wéi it is equivalent to "Hello" in English when making or answering a phone call.
喂 (wéi) + question/greeting. For example 喂，是王老师吗？ (Wéi, shì Wáng lǎoshī ma?) = Hello, is this Teacher Wang?
Placed at the start of a phone call to answer, or to call out for attention. The tone is neutral and polite.
The character 喂 has two pronunciations — read wéi when greeting/on the phone, and read wèi when it means "to feed, to raise" (喂养 (wèiyǎng)). The same character but different sound and meaning.
Vietnamese learners often read it as wèi in every case; when answering the phone it must be read in the second tone (wéi).
Examples
Hello, is this Teacher Wang?
Hello, who are you looking for?
Practice
Test your understanding with a quick quiz
Learn “喂” effectively
The grammar point “喂” (喂 - Hello (on the phone)) is one of the key structures at HSK 2. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
You can also view the full “” lesson to understand the related grammar and vocabulary more deeply.