Sentence-final interjection "a"

Revision as of 03:21, 22 November 2011 by Jonathan.pope (talk | contribs)

The interjection 啊 (ā) is often added to the end of sentences to add a tone of urgency, exclamation or excitement. With many modal verbs, the exact meaning often depends 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 ! (Hey, how're you doing!)
  • (Banging fist on table...Yeah, you're right!)
  • 你 的 难 朋友 真 帅 (You're boyfriend's so handsome!)

啊 expressing certainty or urgency

啊 can also add a sense of urgency to a statement, sometimes with the feeling of an order.

  • ,我 也 觉得! (Definitely, I agree!)
  • 小心 (Careful!)
  • 快点 (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 (Are you going or what??)
  • 你 去 哪儿 (Where are you going??)
  • 你 怎么样 (So how have you been??)

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