Āi yuè literally combines 哀 (āi), meaning 'grief' or 'sorrow', and 乐 (yuè), meaning 'music'. Together, it refers specifically to solemn, mournful music played during funerals or memorial ceremonies in Chinese culture. It is not general sad music, but a formal, ritualistic genre with traditional instrumentation—often featuring the suona, guqin, or string ensembles—and follows strict conventions in tempo, mode, and structure.

This term carries deep cultural weight: it signals respect for the deceased and provides emotional scaffolding for mourners. While modern urban funerals may use recorded āi yuè, rural areas often employ live ensembles hired for the entire ceremony. The word is never used for background music in films or casual contexts—it is reserved exclusively for death-related rites and carries solemnity and restraint.