Difference between revisions of "Expressing the self-evident with "ma""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
The particle 嘛 (ma) is a sentence-final particle identical in pronunciation to the simple [[Yes - no questions with ma|"yes/no question" particle 吗 (ma)]] you learned back in the day, but with a rather different function. It can be used when the speaker feels what he is saying is obvious (from his point of view).
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The particle 嘛 (ma) is a sentence-final particle identical in pronunciation to the simple [[Yes - no questions with ma|"yes/no question" particle 吗 (ma)]] you learned back in the day, but with a rather different function. It can be used when the speaker feels what he is saying is obvious (from his point of view).
  
== Used for Sentence-Final ==
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== Structure ==
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
  
 
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<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*你 妹妹 很 漂亮 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ mèimei hěn piàoliang <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your sister is pretty.</span>
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*你 妹妹 很 漂亮 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">She's clearly pretty.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ mèimei hěn piàoliang <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your sister is pretty.</span>
*他 挺 有钱 的 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā tǐng yǒuqián de <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">His family is pretty rich.</span>
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*他 挺 有钱 的 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">He has shown that's he's rich.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā tǐng yǒuqián de <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">He is pretty rich.</span>
*大家 有 话 就 说 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā yǒu huà jiù shuō <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Guys, you should say whatever you want to say.</span>
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*不 想 去 就 不要 去 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">Clearly you don't have to.</span><span class="pinyin">Bù xiǎng qù jiù bùyào qù <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">If you don't wanna go, don't go.</span>
*不 想 去 就 不要 去 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Bù xiǎng qù jiù bùyào qù <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">If you don't wanna go, don't go.</span>
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*你 别 太 谦虚 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">Obviously you're being super modest.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ bié tài qiānxū <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Don't be too modest.</span>
*别 担心 ,一边 工作 一边 学 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Bié dānxīn, yībiān gōngzuò yībiān xué <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Don't worry. You can learn while you work.</span>
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*大家 有 话 就 说 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">Clearly you can just say it.</span><span class="pinyin">Dàjiā yǒu huà jiù shuō <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Guys, just say whatever you have to say.</span>
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*你 跟 他 很 熟 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">You two are obviously well acquainted.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ gēn tā hěn shú <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">You two know each other well.</span>
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*开 慢 点 ,安全 第一 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">We all know: safety first!</span><span class="pinyin">Kāi màn diǎn, ānquán dì-yī <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Drive slowly. Safety first.</span>
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*不用 塑料袋 更 环保 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">You know you should be eco-friendly!</span><span class="pinyin">Bùyòng sùliàodài gèng huánbǎo <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's more environmentally friendly not to use plastic bags.</span>
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*这个 外国人 很 了解 中国 文化 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">He has amazed us all.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège wàiguórén hěn liǎojiě Zhōngguó wénhuà <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">This foreigner knows a lot about Chinese culture.</span>
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*别 担心 ,一边 工作 一边 学 <em>嘛</em> 。<span class="expl">Clearly this takes time to learn.</span><span class="pinyin">Bié dānxīn, yībiān gōngzuò yībiān xué <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Don't worry. You can learn as you work.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Used for Topic-Marking==
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== See  also ==
 
 
===Structure ===
 
  
<div class="jiegou">
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*[[Marking a topic with "ma"]]
Topic + 嘛 ,Statement
 
</div>
 
 
 
This basically allows the speaker to state the topic, then gather his thoughts before making a comment on it. In this pattern, the following comment may or may not be one the speaker feels is obvious.
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
*大 熊猫<em>嘛</em> ,大家 都 喜欢 。<span class="pinyin">Dà xióngmāo <em>ma</em>, dàjiā dōu xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">Pandas. Everybody likes them.</span>
 
*名牌 <em>嘛</em> ,一定 不 便宜 。<span class="pinyin">Míngpái <em>ma</em>, yīdìng bù piányi.</span><span class="trans">Brandname. It can't be cheap.</span>
 
*第 一 次 <em>嘛</em> ,以后 就 会 了 。<span class="pinyin">Dì-yī cì <em>ma</em>, yǐhòu jiù huì le.</span><span class="trans">First time. You'll learn soon.</span>
 
*孩子 <em>嘛</em> ,不 懂 这些 很 正常 。<span class="pinyin">Háizi <em>ma</em>, bù dǒng zhèxiē hěn zhèngcháng.</span><span class="trans">Kids. It's common that they don't understand these things .</span>
 
*大 老板 请客 <em>嘛</em> ,当然 要 大方 一点 。<span class="pinyin">Dà lǎobǎn qǐngkè <em>ma</em>, dāngrán yào dàfang yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">The big boss is buying dinner. Of course he should be a little more generous.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
==See  also==
 
*[[Yes-no questions with "ma"]]
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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{{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)|225}}  
 
{{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)|225}}  
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|19}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|19}}
{{Source|Intermediate Chinese - A Grammar and Workbook]] Unit 23|}}
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{{Source|Intermediate Chinese - A Grammar and Workbook|}}
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===
  
*[http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2012/01/31/the-other-ma-on-a-bag/ Three Simple Uses of the Other “Ma” on a Bag]
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*[http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2012/01/31/the-other-ma-on-a-bag/ Three Simple Uses of the Other "Ma" on a Bag]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK6}}
 
[[Category:Particles]]
 
[[Category:Particles]]
{{Similar|Yes-no questions with ma}}
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{{Basic Grammar|嘛|B1|Statement + 嘛|大家 有 话 就 说 <em>嘛</em> 。|grammar point|ASGVMC4B}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|嘛|B1|Statement + 嘛|大家 有 话 就 说 <em>嘛</em> 。|grammar point|ASGVMC4B}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Used for|Exclaiming}}
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{{Similar|Marking a topic with "ma"}}
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{{Similar|Sentence-final interjection "a"}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 03:23, 16 December 2020

The particle 嘛 (ma) is a sentence-final particle identical in pronunciation to the simple "yes/no question" particle 吗 (ma) you learned back in the day, but with a rather different function. It can be used when the speaker feels what he is saying is obvious (from his point of view).

Structure

Statement + 嘛

Examples

  • 你 妹妹 很 漂亮 She's clearly pretty.Nǐ mèimei hěn piàoliang ma.Your sister is pretty.
  • 他 挺 有钱 的 He has shown that's he's rich.Tā tǐng yǒuqián de ma.He is pretty rich.
  • 不 想 去 就 不要 去 Clearly you don't have to.Bù xiǎng qù jiù bùyào qù ma.If you don't wanna go, don't go.
  • 你 别 太 谦虚 Obviously you're being super modest.Nǐ bié tài qiānxū ma.Don't be too modest.
  • 大家 有 话 就 说 Clearly you can just say it.Dàjiā yǒu huà jiù shuō ma.Guys, just say whatever you have to say.
  • 你 跟 他 很 熟 You two are obviously well acquainted.Nǐ gēn tā hěn shú ma.You two know each other well.
  • 开 慢 点 ,安全 第一 We all know: safety first!Kāi màn diǎn, ānquán dì-yī ma.Drive slowly. Safety first.
  • 不用 塑料袋 更 环保 You know you should be eco-friendly!Bùyòng sùliàodài gèng huánbǎo ma.It's more environmentally friendly not to use plastic bags.
  • 这个 外国人 很 了解 中国 文化 He has amazed us all.Zhège wàiguórén hěn liǎojiě Zhōngguó wénhuà ma.This foreigner knows a lot about Chinese culture.
  • 别 担心 ,一边 工作 一边 学 Clearly this takes time to learn.Bié dānxīn, yībiān gōngzuò yībiān xué ma.Don't worry. You can learn as you work.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites