Difference between revisions of "Marking a topic with "ma""
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| − | + | The particle 嘛 (ma) can be used for topic marking. It basically allows the speaker to state the topic, then gather his thoughts before making a comment on it. Unlike [[Expressing the self-evident with "ma"|the sentence-final 嘛 pattern]] you may know, the following comment ''may or may not'' be one the speaker feels is obvious. | |
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| − | 嘛 (ma) can be used for topic marking. It basically allows the speaker to state the topic, then gather his thoughts before making a comment on it. | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
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| + | Translations for this pattern are going to be a bit looser than for many other grammar patterns. | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *大 熊猫<em>嘛</em> ，大家 都 喜欢 。<span class="pinyin"> | + | *大 熊猫 <em>嘛</em> ，大家 都 喜欢 。<span class="pinyin">Dàxióngmāo <em>ma</em>, dàjiā dōu xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">Pandas. Everybody likes them.</span> |
| − | *名牌 <em>嘛</em> ，一定 不 便宜 。<span class="pinyin">Míngpái <em>ma</em>, yīdìng bù piányi.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *名牌 <em>嘛</em> ，一定 不 便宜 。<span class="pinyin">Míngpái <em>ma</em>, yīdìng bù piányi.</span><span class="trans">Well, it's a name brand. It can't be cheap.</span> |
| − | * | + | *第一 次 <em>嘛</em> ，以后 就 会 了 。<span class="pinyin">Dì-yī cì <em>ma</em>, yǐhòu jiù huì le.</span><span class="trans">It's your first time. You'll get the hang of it soon.</span> |
| − | *孩子 <em>嘛</em> ，不 懂 这些 很 正常 。<span class="pinyin">Háizi <em>ma</em>, bù dǒng zhèxiē hěn zhèngcháng.</span><span class="trans">Kids. It's | + | *孩子 <em>嘛</em> ，不 懂 这些 很 正常 。<span class="pinyin">Háizi <em>ma</em>, bù dǒng zhèxiē hěn zhèngcháng.</span><span class="trans">Kids. It's not unusual that they don't understand these things.</span> |
| − | *老板 请客 <em>嘛</em> | + | *老板 请客 <em>嘛</em> ，随便 点 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn qǐngkè <em>ma</em>, suíbiàn diǎn.</span><span class="trans">The boss is buying. Order whatever you want.</span> |
| − | *上海 <em>嘛</em> | + | *上海 <em>嘛</em> ，菜 都 是 这样 的。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>ma</em>, cài dōu shì zhèyàng de.</span><span class="trans">It's Shanghai. All the food here is like this.</span> |
| − | *比赛 <em>嘛</em> ，不 紧张 是 不 可能 的。<span class="pinyin">Bǐsài <em>ma</em>, bù jǐnzhāng shì bù kěnéng de.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *比赛 <em>嘛</em> ，不 紧张 是 不 可能 的。<span class="pinyin">Bǐsài <em>ma</em>, bù jǐnzhāng shì bù kěnéng de.</span><span class="trans">It's a competition. It's not possible to not be nervous.</span> |
| − | * | + | *歌手 <em>嘛</em> ，我们 两 个 都 喜欢 周杰伦。<span class="pinyin">Gēshǒu <em>ma</em>, wǒmen liǎng gè dōu xǐhuan Zhōu Jiélún.</span><span class="trans">The singer,we both like Jay Chou.</span> |
| − | *学生 <em>嘛</em> ，就 应该 有 学生 | + | *学生 <em>嘛</em> ，就 应该 有 学生 的 样子。<span class="pinyin">Xuéshēng <em>ma</em>, jiù yīnggāi yǒu xuéshēng de yàngzi.</span><span class="trans">Students should act like students.</span> |
*开车 <em>嘛</em> ，最 重要 的 是 安全。<span class="pinyin">Kāichē <em>ma</em>, zuì zhòngyào de shì ānquán.</span><span class="trans">When it comes to driving, the most important thing is safety.</span> | *开车 <em>嘛</em> ，最 重要 的 是 安全。<span class="pinyin">Kāichē <em>ma</em>, zuì zhòngyào de shì ānquán.</span><span class="trans">When it comes to driving, the most important thing is safety.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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*[[Expressing the self-evident with "ma"]] | *[[Expressing the self-evident with "ma"]] | ||
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[[Category:B2 grammar points]] | [[Category:B2 grammar points]] | ||
[[Category:Particles]] | [[Category:Particles]] | ||
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{{Basic Grammar|嘛|B2|Statement + 嘛|大家 有 话 就 说 <em>嘛</em> 。|grammar point|ASGB33AE}} | {{Basic Grammar|嘛|B2|Statement + 嘛|大家 有 话 就 说 <em>嘛</em> 。|grammar point|ASGB33AE}} | ||
{{Used for|Marking a topic}} | {{Used for|Marking a topic}} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:33, 14 January 2021
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Keywords
The particle 嘛 (ma) can be used for topic marking. It basically allows the speaker to state the topic, then gather his thoughts before making a comment on it. Unlike the sentence-final 嘛 pattern you may know, the following comment may or may not be one the speaker feels is obvious.
Structure
Topic + 嘛 ，Statement
Examples
Translations for this pattern are going to be a bit looser than for many other grammar patterns.
- 大 熊猫 嘛 ，大家 都 喜欢 。Pandas. Everybody likes them.
- 名牌 嘛 ，一定 不 便宜 。Well, it's a name brand. It can't be cheap.
- 第一 次 嘛 ，以后 就 会 了 。It's your first time. You'll get the hang of it soon.
- 孩子 嘛 ，不 懂 这些 很 正常 。Kids. It's not unusual that they don't understand these things.
- 老板 请客 嘛 ，随便 点 。The boss is buying. Order whatever you want.
- 上海 嘛 ，菜 都 是 这样 的。It's Shanghai. All the food here is like this.
- 比赛 嘛 ，不 紧张 是 不 可能 的。It's a competition. It's not possible to not be nervous.
- 歌手 嘛 ，我们 两 个 都 喜欢 周杰伦。The singer,we both like Jay Chou.
- 学生 嘛 ，就 应该 有 学生 的 样子。Students should act like students.
- 开车 嘛 ，最 重要 的 是 安全。When it comes to driving, the most important thing is safety.
