Modal particle

Also known as: 语气助词 (yǔqì zhùcí), 语气词 (yǔqì cí), Sentence-final particle and Sentential particle.

Modal particles are words used at the end of sentences to indicate mood, or attitude. The tend to be neutral tone and hard to translate, but they add a bit of "flavor" to a sentence.

See also particles.

Examples

• 吗 (ma)
• 呢 (ne)
• 吧 (ba)
• 了 (le)
• 啊 (a)
• 的 (de)
• 嘛 (ma)
• 哪 (na)
• 啦 (la)
• 呀 (ya)
• 哇 (wa)

Sources and further reading

Websites

• Wikipedia: Modal particle
• Wikipedia: Sentence-final particle

Books

• 外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照) (pp. 131 - 150)
• 简明汉语语法学习手册 (Chinese Grammar Without Tears) (pp. 232 - 239)
• 汉语常用格式330例