āi

(bound form) sorrow; grief; pity

Ai (c. 2000 BC), sixth of legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God, also known as Li 釐|厘[Li2]; (bound form) to grieve for; to pity; to lament; to condole

Mouth (口) wrapped in clothing (衣) = a muffled cry of sorrow

The mouth (口) nestled inside a garment (衣) evokes a cry muffled by grief, a wail swallowed in sorrow. 衣 mainly gives the sound āi; the mouth carries the emotional weight.

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MouthSemantic
ClothingPhonetic

他听到这个消息后,心中充满了伤。

tā tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi hòu, xīn zhōng chōng mǎn le āi shāng。

after hearing this news, his heart was filled with grief.

大家对逝者表示悼,泪水流了下来。

dà jiā duì shì zhě biǎo shì āi dào, lèi shuǐ liú le xià lái。

everyone expressed condolences for the deceased, and tears flowed down.

Words with 哀

默哀

mò āi

to observe a moment of silence in tribute

乞哀告怜

qǐ āi gào lián

begging for pity and asking for help (idiom)

可哀

kě āi

miserably

哀劝

āi quàn

to persuade by all possible means; to implore

哀告

āi gào

to beg piteously

哀号

āi háo

to cry piteously

哀伤

āi shāng

grief; distress; bereavement

哀兵必胜

āi bīng bì shèng

an army burning with righteous indignation is bound to win (idiom)

哀告宾服

āi gào bīn fú

to bring tribute as sign of submission (idiom); to submit

哀哭

āi kū

to weep in sorrow

哀启

āi qǐ

obituary (archaic term)

哀叹

āi tàn

to sigh

More characters with 衣