Sentence-final interjection "a"

The interjection 啊 (ā) is often added to the end of sentences to add a tone of urgency, exclamation or excitement. However, the exact meaning often dependent on context.

啊 expressing exclamation

When used like this, 啊 is placed at the end of a statement and has a tone of exclamation, excitement or enthusiasm.

• 你好 啊! (Hey, how're you doing!)
• 对 啊！(Banging fist on table...Yeah, you're right!)
• 你 的 男朋友 真 帅 啊！(Your boyfriend's so handsome!)

啊 expressing certainty or urgency

啊 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！(Careful!)
• 快点 啊！(Come on, get on with it!)

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??)
• 你 去 哪儿 啊？(Where are you going??)
• 你 怎么样 啊？(So how have you been?)

This is very similar to one of the usages of 呢, but has an added sense of urgency.

See also

• Questions with ne
• Suggestions with ba
• Listing Things with "a"

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