Difference between revisions of "Expressing the self-evident with "ma""
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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The particle 嘛 (ma) is a sentence-final particle identical in pronunciation to the simple [[Yes - no questions with ma|"yes/no question" particle 吗 (ma)]] you learned back in the day, but with a rather different function. It can be used when the speaker feels what he is saying is obvious (from his point of view).
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The particle 嘛 (ma) is a sentence-final particle identical in pronunciation to the simple [[Yes - no questions with ma|"yes/no question" particle 吗 (ma)]] you learned back in the day, but with a rather different function. It can be used when the speaker feels what he is saying is obvious (from his point of view).
  
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== Sentence-Final Structure ==
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== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Statement + 嘛
 
Statement + 嘛
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 你的 妹妹 很 漂亮 <em>嘛</em>。<span class="trans">Your sister is pretty.</span>
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*你 妹妹 很 漂亮 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">She's clearly pretty.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ mèimei hěn piàoliang <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your sister is pretty.</span>
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* 中国 人口 很 多 <em>嘛</em>。<span class="trans">The Chinese population is huge.</span>
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*他 挺 有钱 的 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">He has shown that's he's rich.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā tǐng yǒuqián de <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">He is pretty rich.</span>
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* 美国人 很 开放 <em>嘛</em>。<span class="trans">Americans are very open-minded.</span>
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*不 想 去 就 不要 去 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">Clearly you don't have to.</span><span class="pinyin">Bù xiǎng qù jiù bùyào qù <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">If you don't wanna go, don't go.</span>
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*你 别 太 谦虚 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">Obviously you're being super modest.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ bié tài qiānxū <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Don't be too modest.</span>
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</div>
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*大家 有 话 就 说 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">Clearly you can just say it.</span><span class="pinyin">Dàjiā yǒu huà jiù shuō <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Guys, just say whatever you have to say.</span>
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*你 跟 他 很 熟 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">You two are obviously well acquainted.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ gēn tā hěn shú <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">You two know each other well.</span>
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== Topic-Marking Structure ==
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*开 慢 点 ，安全 第一 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">We all know: safety first!</span><span class="pinyin">Kāi màn diǎn, ānquán dì-yī <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Drive slowly. Safety first.</span>
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*不用 塑料袋 更 环保 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">You know you should be eco-friendly!</span><span class="pinyin">Bùyòng sùliàodài gèng huánbǎo <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's more environmentally friendly not to use plastic bags.</span>
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An alternate form is:
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*这个 外国人 很 了解 中国 文化 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">He has amazed us all.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège wàiguórén hěn liǎojiě Zhōngguó wénhuà <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">This foreigner knows a lot about Chinese culture.</span>
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*别 担心 ，一边 工作 一边 学 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">Clearly this takes time to learn.</span><span class="pinyin">Bié dānxīn, yībiān gōngzuò yībiān xué <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Don't worry. You can learn as you work.</span>
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<div class="jiegou">
 
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Topic + 嘛, + Statement
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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This basically allows the speaker to state the topic, then gather his thoughts before making a comment on it.  In this pattern, the following comment may or may not be one the speaker feels is obvious.
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== See  also ==
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=== Examples ===
 
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<div class="liju">
 
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* 女孩子 <em>嘛</em>，害怕。<span class="trans">Girls. They're always afraid.</span>
 
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* 男人 <em>嘛</em>，总是要喝啤酒。<span class="trans">Men. They're always going to drink beer.</span>
 
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</div>
 
  
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==See  also==
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*[[Marking a topic with "ma"]]
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*[[Yes-no questions with ma]]
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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*[[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)]] (pp. 225) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy] [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B002ZNK7JE&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B002ZNK7JE →买]
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{{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)|225}}
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 19) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|19}}
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* [[Intermediate Chinese - A Grammar and Workbook]] (Unit 23) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415160391/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0415160391 →buy]
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{{Source|Intermediate Chinese - A Grammar and Workbook|}}
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===
  
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*[http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2012/01/31/the-other-ma-on-a-bag/ Three Simple Uses of the Other “Ma” on a Bag]
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*[http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2012/01/31/the-other-ma-on-a-bag/ Three Simple Uses of the Other "Ma" on a Bag]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK6}}
 
[[Category:Particles]]
 
[[Category:Particles]]
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{{Similar|Yes-no questions with ma}}
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{{Basic Grammar|嘛|B1|……嘛|她 是 女孩子 <em>嘛</em>。当然 喜欢 花。|grammar point|ASGVMC4B}}
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{{Basic Grammar|嘛|B1|Statement + 嘛|大家 有 话 就 说 <em>嘛</em> 。|grammar point|ASGVMC4B}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
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{{Used for|Exclaiming}}
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{{Similar|Marking a topic with "ma"}}
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{{Similar|Sentence-final interjection "a"}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 03:23, 16 December 2020

The particle 嘛 (ma) is a sentence-final particle identical in pronunciation to the simple "yes/no question" particle 吗 (ma) you learned back in the day, but with a rather different function. It can be used when the speaker feels what he is saying is obvious (from his point of view).

Structure

Statement + 嘛

Examples

  • 你 妹妹 很 漂亮 嘛 。She's clearly pretty.Nǐ mèimei hěn piàoliang ma.Your sister is pretty.
  • 他 挺 有钱 的 嘛 。He has shown that's he's rich.Tā tǐng yǒuqián de ma.He is pretty rich.
  • 不 想 去 就 不要 去 嘛 。Clearly you don't have to.Bù xiǎng qù jiù bùyào qù ma.If you don't wanna go, don't go.
  • 你 别 太 谦虚 嘛 。Obviously you're being super modest.Nǐ bié tài qiānxū ma.Don't be too modest.
  • 大家 有 话 就 说 嘛 。Clearly you can just say it.Dàjiā yǒu huà jiù shuō ma.Guys, just say whatever you have to say.
  • 你 跟 他 很 熟 嘛 。You two are obviously well acquainted.Nǐ gēn tā hěn shú ma.You two know each other well.
  • 开 慢 点 ，安全 第一 嘛 。We all know: safety first!Kāi màn diǎn, ānquán dì-yī ma.Drive slowly. Safety first.
  • 不用 塑料袋 更 环保 嘛 。You know you should be eco-friendly!Bùyòng sùliàodài gèng huánbǎo ma.It's more environmentally friendly not to use plastic bags.
  • 这个 外国人 很 了解 中国 文化 嘛 。He has amazed us all.Zhège wàiguórén hěn liǎojiě Zhōngguó wénhuà ma.This foreigner knows a lot about Chinese culture.
  • 别 担心 ，一边 工作 一边 学 嘛 。Clearly this takes time to learn.Bié dānxīn, yībiān gōngzuò yībiān xué ma.Don't worry. You can learn as you work.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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