huh

huh — exclamation

1. Used when you did not catch what someone said and want them to repeat it. You sa

1.感嘆詞A1
釋義

Used when you did not catch what someone said and want them to repeat it. You say this with a rising tone, like asking a short question.

例句

Huh? Sorry, I was not listening. Can you say that one more time?

rising tone signals missed information

Huh? I did not catch the last part of your question, Christopher.

rising intonation asking for repeat

同義詞
  • what

    More direct and slightly less polite; 'What?' can sound abrupt even in informal settings.

  • sorry

    More polite than 'huh' — standard in British English for asking someone to repeat.

  • pardon

    Even more formal than 'sorry'; common in UK and Australian English.

用法筆記

Spoken with a sharply rising pitch. The tone alone — not the volume — signals confusion or inattention. Repeating "Huh?" too often in conversation can sound rude; "Sorry?" or "Pardon?" are more polite alternatives.

常見錯誤

❌Huh.' (flat tone) when you did not hear someone.
✅Huh?' (rising tone)
💡a flat tone changes the meaning to disapproval or disbelief in sense 2.

2. Used to show that you are not impressed, you disagree with what was said, or you

2.感嘆詞B1
釋義

Used to show that you are not impressed, you disagree with what was said, or you think something is unimportant or not worth taking seriously.

例句

Huh! I thought her speech would be better than that, honestly.

flat or falling tone expresses disappointment

Huh! That excuse does not hold any water at all, Tamar said.

dismissive tone signals disbelief

同義詞
  • pfft

    More dismissive and dramatic; often implies the topic is laughable or ridiculous.

  • come on

    Softer than 'huh' — expresses disbelief or mild objection without being harsh.

  • whatever

    Strongly dismissive, signals that you consider the topic not worth further discussion.

反義詞
  • wow

    Expresses genuine admiration or surprise, the opposite of dismissiveness.

用法筆記

Spoken with a flat or falling pitch, often accompanied by a shrug or a skeptical facial expression. The sharpness of the tone conveys how strongly you reject the idea — a gentle "Huh" can mean mild doubt, while a loud "HUH!" signals open contempt.

常見錯誤

❌Huh?' (rising tone) when you mean to dismiss something.
✅Huh!' (flat/falling)
💡the rising tone is for asking for repetition (sense 1), not for expressing disapproval.

3. A tag word that you attach to a statement — usually after a comma — to invite th

3.感嘆詞A2
釋義

A tag word that you attach to a statement — usually after a comma — to invite the listener to agree, confirm, or give an opinion. It works like "right?" or "don't you think?".

例句

Nice weather we are having today, huh? Élise said to the shopkeeper.

tag-question use seeking agreement

So you will come to the party after all, huh? Hugo asked with a grin.

confirming an expected yes

同義詞
  • right

    Neutral and more common across all registers; 'right?' can replace 'huh?' in any context without sounding too casual.

  • eh

    Distinctively British, Canadian, and Australian; sounds foreign to many American ears.

  • yeah

    Very casual tag used mostly by younger speakers; overlaps with 'huh' in seeking confirmation.

用法筆記

Attached to the end of a declarative sentence with rising or fall-rise intonation. In American English it is very common in everyday conversation; in British English 'eh?' or 'innit?' serve a similar function. Avoid using it in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌Huh? Nice weather we are having.' (putting it at the start).
✅Nice weather we are having, huh?' (putting it at the end)
💡sense 3 only works as a tag at the end of a sentence.