Difference between revisions of "Sentence-final interjection "a""
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| − | * 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> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 谁 说 的 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Shéi shuō de <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Who said so?</span> | + | * 谁 说 的 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Shéi shuō de <em>a</em>? </span> <span class="trans">Who said so? </span> |
| − | * 你 傻 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">What are you, stupid?</span> | + | * 你 傻 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <em>a</em>? </span> <span class="trans">What are you, stupid? </span> |
| − | * 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> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 你 疯 了 <em>啊</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ fēng le <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">You crazy?</span> | + | * 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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Revision as of 09:53, 12 November 2015
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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.
Contents
啊 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).
- 对 啊 ！ (Banging fist on table...) You're right!
- 这里 好 漂亮 啊 ！ This place is so pretty!
- 没 问题 啊 ！ 我 帮 你。 No problem! I'll help you!
- 学 中文 真 难 啊 ！ Learning Chinese is so hard!
- 好 香 啊 ！什么东西 ？ It smells great! What is it?
啊 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.
- 是 啊 ，我 也 觉得 ！ Definitely, I agree!
- 小心 啊 ！ Be careful!
- 可以 啊 ！ It's fine!
- 你 吃 啊 ！不要 不好意思。 Eat it! Don't be embarrassed.
- 天天 加班， 累 啊 ！ Working overtime every day is so tiring!
啊 used in questions
Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.
- 你 走 不 走 啊 ？ Are you going or what?
- 谁 说 的 啊 ？ Who said so?
- 你 傻 啊 ？ What are you, stupid?
- 看 什么 啊 ？ 没 见 过 漂亮 姑娘 啊 ？ What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before?
- 你 疯 了 啊 ？ You crazy?
This is very similar to one of the usages of 呢 (ne), but has an added sense of urgency.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp.142-3) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 51-4) →buy
