Sentence-final interjection "a"

Level

A2 / HSK1
Level

A2
Level

HSK1
Similar to
Similar to
- Listing things with "a" (HSK5)
- Softening the tone of questions with "ne" (HSK5)
- Expressing the self-evident with "ma" (HSK6)
Used for

Exclaiming, Expressing attitude
Keywords

啊

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 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...)Duì a! You're right!
这里好漂亮啊！ Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang a! This place is so pretty!
没问题啊！我帮你。 Méi wèntí a! Wǒ bāng nǐ. No problem! I'll help you!
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 dōngxī? 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！ Shì a, wǒ yě juéde! Definitely, I agree!
小心啊！ Xiǎoxīn a! Be careful!
可以啊！ Kěyǐ a! It's fine!
你吃啊！不要不好意思。 Nǐ chī a! Bùyào bùhǎoyìsi. Eat it! Don't be embarrassed.
天天加班，累啊！ Tiāntiān jiābān, lèi a! 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？ Nǐ zǒu bù zǒu a? Are you going or what?
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 guò piàoliang gūniang a? What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before?
你疯了啊？ Nǐ fēng le a? You crazy?

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

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