Sentence-final interjection "a"

Level

A2 / HSK1
Level

A2
Level

HSK1
Similar to
Similar to
- Listing things with "a" (HSK5)
- Softening the tone of questions with "ne" (HSK5)
- Expressing the self-evident with "ma" (HSK6)
Used for

Exclaiming, Expressing attitude
Keywords

啊

The interjection 啊 (a) is often added to the end of sentences to add a tone of urgency, exclamation or excitement. However, the exact meaning often depends on context.

啊 (a) Expressing Exclamation

When used like this, 啊 (a) is placed at the end of a statement and has a tone of exclamation, excitement or enthusiasm. (In a lot of cases, the only English "translation" you can offer is an exclamation point.)

Examples

对啊！Banging fist on table...Duì a! You're right!
这里好漂亮啊！Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang a!This place is so pretty!
你家真大啊！Nǐ jiā zhēn dà a! Your house is so big.
学中文真难啊！Xué Zhōngwén zhēn nán a! Learning Chinese is so hard!
好香啊！什么东西？ Hǎo xiāng a! Shénme dōngxi? It smells great! What is it?

啊 (a) Expressing Certainty or Urgency

啊 (a) can also add a sense of certainty or urgency to a statement, sometimes with the feeling of an order.

Examples

是啊，我也觉得！Shì a, wǒ yě juéde! Definitely, I think so too!
行啊！Xíng a!All right!
可以啊！Kěyǐ a! It's fine!
小心啊！Xiǎoxīn a! Be careful!
吃啊！Chī a! Eat some!

啊 (a) Used in Questions

Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.

Examples

你走不走啊？ Nǐ zǒu bu zǒu a? Are you going or what?
你吃不吃啊？Nǐ chī bu chī a? Are you eating or not?
谁说的啊？Shéi shuō de a? Who said so?
你傻啊？Nǐ shǎ a? What are you, stupid?
看什么啊？没见过漂亮姑娘啊？ Kàn shénme a? Méi jiàn guo piàoliang gūniang a?What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before?

Sources and further reading

Books

Sentence-final interjection "a"

Contents

啊 (a) Expressing Exclamation

Examples

啊 (a) Expressing Certainty or Urgency

Examples

啊 (a) Used in Questions

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books