I know you can use both words, I am just curious if there is a small difference.
Maybe one word is more used by younger, the other by older people.
Or one sounds more out of date........
Is there any difference between Wei2 and Wai2 (=hello) ?
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Terence Lee
Re: Is there any difference between Wei2 and Wai2 (=hello) ?
喂wai2, wai3, wei2, wei3, wei4
The above syllables are being used by Hongkongese as hallo when answering a phone. Wai3 would usually be used to draw attention or shout at somebody who has his back facing you or not attending you
As hallo喂 is a colloquial sound, there is no definite rule to pronounce it. All of them are accepted, just like those English speaker will say hallo or hello or sometimes hullo.
P.S. using of wei2-4 is rare; the formal syllable for喂 is wai3; this sound also applies to Mandarin.
The above syllables are being used by Hongkongese as hallo when answering a phone. Wai3 would usually be used to draw attention or shout at somebody who has his back facing you or not attending you
As hallo喂 is a colloquial sound, there is no definite rule to pronounce it. All of them are accepted, just like those English speaker will say hallo or hello or sometimes hullo.
P.S. using of wei2-4 is rare; the formal syllable for喂 is wai3; this sound also applies to Mandarin.