aiya.

interj.  a Chinese exclamation of joy.

<Aiya!  You got five out of six in Lotto!  —San Diego Chinese Women’s Association.>

interj.  a Chinese exclamation of profound astonishment.

<Aiya!  She switch majors from Business to Art History!  —San Diego Chinese Women’s Association.>

interj.  a Chinese exclamation of surprise.

<“Aiya!” [Yu Zuomin] is said to have exclaimed.  “It’s over!  It’s over!  I never thought it would happen so quickly!”  —Bruce Gilley, Modern Rebels: The Rise and Fall of China’s Richest Village.>

interj.  a Chinese expression meaning “are you kidding?” or “don’t be silly.”

<Pei swallowed, tears pushing against her eyes.  “You don’t have to stay here anymore, you could return to Hong Kong with me. …”  Moi laughed.  “Aiya, what would I do there?  My home is here.  It always has been.”  —Gail Tsukiyama, The Language of Threads: A Novel.>

interj.  a Chinese expression of awe.

<“Aiya!” Golden Dog exclaimed, “there really are two suns in the world!”  —Pingwa Jia, Turbulence: A Novel.>

interj.  a Chinese expression of disappointment or regret.

<“Aiya,” he sighed, “my foolish boy.  He has stopped drawing and seems to have become interested in sports.  What will we do with him?”  —Mark Salzman, Iron and Silk.>

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