Sentence-final interjection "a"
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
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 depends on context.
Contents
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!)Hey, hello!
- 对 啊！(Banging fist on table...Yeah, you're right!)Right!
- 你 的 男朋友 真 帅 啊！(Upon seeing a picture of the said boyfriend.)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!)It is, I agree!
- 小心 啊！(Careful!) Be careful!
- 快点 啊！(Come on, get on with it!)Quickly!
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??)You going or not going!
- 你 去 哪儿 啊？(Where are you going??)You going where?
- 你 怎么样 啊？(So how have you been?)How have you been?
This is very similar to one of the usages of 呢, 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
