# はい
## Japanese
### Etymology 1

Ultimate derivation currently unknown, with various resources listing no etymology. Theories include:
* Perhaps related to interjection は (ha, “yes”), which first appears in the early 1600s.
* Alternatively, may derive from Cantonese 係 / 系 (hai$^6$), or perhaps from Sino-Japanese 拝 (hai), but this theory is not academically accepted. (Can this etymology be sourced?)
First cited as a general shout in the early 1600s (compare English hey), with the affirmative yes sense first cited to 1774.

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) はい [háꜜì] (Atamadaka – [1])
* IPA: [ha̠i]

#### Interjection

はい • (hai)
* [from 1774] yes; okay; understood, got it; here, present; right, so (agreement); uh-huh (acknowledgement that one is listening)
    はい、承(しょう)知(ち)しました。
       Hai, shōchi shimashita.
       Yes, understood.
    「もしもし、木(き)村(むら)さんですか？」「はい、木(き)村(むら)です。」
       “Moshimoshi, Kimura-san desu ka?”“Hai, Kimura desu.”
       "Hello, is this Mr./Ms. Kimura?" "Yes, Kimura speaking."
    はい、何(なん)でしょうか。
       Hai, nan deshō ka.
       Yes? What is it?
    はい。はい。はい。なるほど、なるほど。
       Hai. Hai. Hai. Naruhodo, naruhodo.
       Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yes. Mmm, I see.
* [from 1774] no (in response to negative questions); agree
    今日(きょう)は雨(あめ)だから、ピクニックには行(い)けませんね？はい、行(い)けません。
       Kyō wa ame da kara, pikunikku ni wa ikemasen ne? Hai, ikemasen.
       It's raining today so we can't go on a picnic? No, we can't go.
* [date uncertain] sorry? (What did you say?)
    はい？何(なん)ですって？
       Hai? Nan desu tte?
       I'm sorry? Could you repeat that?
* [from 1603] general shout or call, compare English hey: go, start; stop, time's up (expressing a timing)
    1(いち)、2(に)、3(さん)、はい！
       Ichi, ni, san, hai!
       1, 2, 3, go!
    はい、そこまで。
       Hai, soko made.
       OK, let's stop here.
    はいおわりー。
       Hai owarī.
       Hey, we're done.
* [from early 1800s] (sentence-final) used to express mild uncertainty
    そうだと思(おも)います、はい。
       Sō da to omoimasu, hai.
       I believe so, yes.

##### Usage notes

Used in a variety of contexts, including:
* “present” – when calling attendance
* “go ahead” – when a car or truck is backing up; often said deeply with extended ‘a’ sound as in はあ〜い (hāāi)
* “yes, I understand what you are saying (but don’t necessarily agree)”

##### Synonyms

* (informal) ああ (ā), うん (un)
* (informal but still polite) ええ (ē)
* (archaic) しかり (shikari), 応(おう) (ō)

##### Antonyms

* いいえ (īe, “no”)
* (informal) ううん (ūn, “uh-uh”)

### Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of はい – see the following entries. :
| 【敗】4 | [counter] losses |
| 【灰】6 | [noun] ash |
| 【肺】6 | [noun] (anatomy) lung |
| 【杯】S | [counter] cupfuls [counter] squids (as food) [suffix] (games) cup (contest) Alternative spelling 盃 |
| 【佩】H | [counter] swords [noun] ancient ornamental belt |
| 【胚】H | [noun] embryo |
| 【蝿はえ】H | [noun] a fly [noun] (especially) insects of the family Muscidae Alternative spelling ハエ |
(This term, はい (hai), is the hiragana spelling of the above terms.) For a list of all kanji read as はい, see Category:Japanese kanji read as はい.) :
(The following entries are uncreated: 珮, 拝.)

### References

* 1 2 3 “はい”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎ (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
* ↑ “はい”, in デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen]‎ (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months
* 1 2 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ Shinmura, Izuru, editor (1998), 広辞苑 [Kōjien] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, →ISBN
* ↑ “は”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎ (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006

## Okinawan
### Interjection

はい (hai)
* (gender-neutral) hello
    Synonyms: (men's speech) はいさい (haisai), (women's speech) はいたい (haitai)