Difference between revisions of "Expressing the self-evident with "ma""
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| − | The | + | 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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| + | == Structure == | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
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Statement + 嘛 | Statement + 嘛 | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | == Examples == | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | *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> |
| − | * | + | *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> |
| − | * | + | *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> |
| + | *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> | ||
| + | *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> | ||
| + | *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> | ||
| + | *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> | ||
| + | *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> | ||
| + | *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> | ||
| + | *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> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | == See also == | |
| − | + | *[[Marking a topic with "ma"]] | |
| − | + | == Sources and further reading == | |
| − | + | === Books === | |
| − | + | {{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)|225}} | |
| + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|19}} | ||
| + | {{Source|Intermediate Chinese - A Grammar and Workbook|}} | ||
| − | + | === Websites === | |
| − | * | + | *[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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[[Category:B1 grammar points]] | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK6}} | ||
[[Category:Particles]] | [[Category:Particles]] | ||
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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}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Marking a topic with "ma"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Sentence-final interjection "a"}} | ||
| + | {{POS|Particles}} | ||
Latest revision as of 03:23, 16 December 2020
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Keywords
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.Your sister is pretty.
- 他 挺 有钱 的 嘛 。He has shown that's he's rich.He is pretty rich.
- 不 想 去 就 不要 去 嘛 。Clearly you don't have to.If you don't wanna go, don't go.
- 你 别 太 谦虚 嘛 。Obviously you're being super modest.Don't be too modest.
- 大家 有 话 就 说 嘛 。Clearly you can just say it.Guys, just say whatever you have to say.
- 你 跟 他 很 熟 嘛 。You two are obviously well acquainted.You two know each other well.
- 开 慢 点 ，安全 第一 嘛 。We all know: safety first!Drive slowly. Safety first.
- 不用 塑料袋 更 环保 嘛 。You know you should be eco-friendly!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.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.Don't worry. You can learn as you work.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 225) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 19) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Intermediate Chinese - A Grammar and Workbook Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
