Negative Emotion Sounds Universally Understandable
This was very interesting to come across, as I have found out through my own experience that I came to understand these types of common Taiwanese/Chinese exclamatory grunts and yelps, yet I was never formally taught them in Chinese class.
One such example:
When a Taiwanese (no matter what age) is shocked, surprised, disappointed, angry or fearful, they usually (before letting loose the swears 
hahaha) exclaim (sometimes in a hushed voice if they are frightened) “Hai – yoooo”.
I find myself using it like a native now, actually hahaha.
Read the article I found here:
http://www.livescience.com/culture/negative-emotion-sounds-universally-understandable-100125.html
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