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Glite Dictionary
hi-yah

hi-yah

9.9
A short shout made when doing a quick strong movement, like in karate
  • interjection
  • /haɪ jɑː/
  • Informal
translation icon : ¡hi-yah!
  • She leapt into the air, yelling hi-yah as she landed her kick.

Examples

  • With a sudden hi-yah, the martial artist broke the board in half.

  • He shouted hi-yah as he executed a perfect kick.

  • The children shouted hi-yah while pretending to be karate masters in the backyard.

  • With a loud hi-yah, she broke the wooden board.

  • The children shouted hi-yah as they practiced their karate moves in the park.

  • With a loud hi-yah, the martial artist struck the punching bag with precision.

  • He yelled hi-yah while performing a swift kick during his karate demonstration.

Synonyms

hyah
vshi-yah
  • Informal
66 9.9

A short shout to tell a person or animal to move

accompanies a sharp strike as a short martial arts exclamation

Surface Forms

hi-yah main

Etymology

Hi-yah is an imitation of the short, sharp shout used in martial arts, like the Japanese kiai, and it works as a quick 'power' shout. That's why people say hi-yah when they make a fast strike or kick, to add power and focus.