Difference between revisions of "Sentence-final interjection "a""
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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.
 
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.
  
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==啊 expressing exclamation==
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==啊 (a) Expressing Exclamation==
  
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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).
+
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 ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 对 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="expl"> (Banging fist on table...) </span><span class="pinyin">Duì <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">You're right!</span>
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* 对 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="expl">Banging fist on table...</span><span class="pinyin">Duì <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">You're right!</span>
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* 这里 好 漂亮 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang <em>a</em>!</span> <span class="trans">This place is so pretty! </span>
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* 这里 好 漂亮 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang <em>a</em>!</span><span class="trans">This place is so pretty! </span>
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* 没 问题 <em>啊</em> ！ 我 帮 你。<span class="pinyin">Méi wèntí <em>a</em>! Wǒ bāng nǐ. </span> <span class="trans">No problem! I'll help you! </span>
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* 你 家 真 大 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā zhēn dà <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">Your house is so big.</span>
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* 学 中文 真 难 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén zhēn nán <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Learning Chinese is so hard!</span>
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* 学 中文 真 难 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén zhēn nán <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">Learning Chinese is so hard!</span>
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* 好 香 <em>啊</em> ！什么东西 ？ <span class="pinyin">Hǎo xiāng <em>a</em>!  Shénme dōngxī? </span> <span class="trans">It smells great! What is it? </span>
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* 好 香 <em>啊</em> ！什么东西 ？ <span class="pinyin">Hǎo xiāng <em>a</em>!  Shénme dōngxi? </span><span class="trans">It smells great! What is it? </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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==啊 expressing certainty or urgency==
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==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.
 
啊 (a) can also add a sense of certainty or urgency to a statement, sometimes with the feeling of an order.
 +
 +
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
−
* 是 <em>啊</em> ，我 也 觉得 ！<span class="pinyin">Shì <em>a</em>, wǒ yě juéde! </span> <span class="trans">Definitely, I agree! </span>
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* 是 <em>啊</em> ，我 也 觉得 ！<span class="pinyin">Shì <em>a</em>, wǒ yě juéde! </span><span class="trans">Definitely, I think so too! </span>
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* 小心 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xiǎoxīn <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Be careful! </span>
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* 行 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xíng <em>a</em>!</span><span class="trans">All right! </span>
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* 可以 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Kěyǐ <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">It's fine!</span>
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* 可以 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Kěyǐ <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">It's fine!</span>
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* 你 吃 <em>啊</em> ！不要 不好意思。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ chī <em>a</em>! Bùyào bùhǎoyìsi. </span> <span class="trans">Eat it! Don't be embarrassed. </span>
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* 小心 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xiǎoxīn <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">Be careful!</span>
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* 天天 加班， 累 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Tiāntiān jiābān, lèi <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Working overtime every day is so tiring! </span>
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* 吃 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chī <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">Eat some! </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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==啊 used in questions==
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==啊 (a) Used in Questions==
  
 
Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.
 
Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.
 +
 +
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
−
* 你 走 不 走 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zǒu bù zǒu <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Are you going or what?</span>
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* 你 走 不 走 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zǒu bu zǒu <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">Are you going or what? </span>
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* 谁 说 的 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Shéi shuō de <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Who said so?</span>
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* 你 吃 不 吃 <em>啊</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ  chī bu chī <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">Are you eating or not? </span>
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* 你 傻 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">What are you, stupid?</span>
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* 谁 说 的 <em>啊</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Shéi shuō de <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">Who said so? </span>
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* 看 什么 <em>啊</em> ？ 没 见 过 漂亮 姑娘 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Kàn shénme <em>a</em>?  Méi jiàn guò piàoliang gūniang <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before?</span>
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* 你 傻 <em>啊</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">What are you, stupid? </span>
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* 你 疯 了 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ fēng le <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">You crazy?</span>
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* 看 什么 <em>啊</em> ？没 见 过 漂亮 姑娘 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Kàn shénme <em>a</em>?  Méi jiàn guo piàoliang gūniang <em>a</em>?</span><span class="trans">What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before? </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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This is very similar to one of the usages of [[呢]] (ne), but has an added sense of urgency.
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==See also==
  
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==See also==
 
 
*[[Questions with ne]]
 
*[[Questions with ne]]
 
*[[Suggestions with ba]]
 
*[[Suggestions with ba]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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*[[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (pp.142-3) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|107}}
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 51-4) [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|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)|142-3}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|51-4}}
  
 
[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 
[[Category: Particles ]]
 
[[Category: Particles ]]
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{{Basic Grammar|啊|A2|……啊！|是 <em>啊</em>！谁 <em>啊</em>？|grammar point|ASGW66JM}}
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{{Basic Grammar|啊|A2|⋯⋯啊|是 <em>啊</em>！谁 <em>啊</em>？|grammar point|ASGW66JM}}
 
{{Similar|Questions with ne}}
 
{{Similar|Questions with ne}}
 
{{Similar|Suggestions with ba}}  
 
{{Similar|Suggestions with ba}}  

Latest revision as of 09:21, 20 April 2021

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?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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