Difference between revisions of "Sentence-final interjection "a""

m (Text replacement - "bùhǎoyìsi" to "bù hǎoyìsi")
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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.
 
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 (a) expressing exclamation==
+
==啊 (a) 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.)
 
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.)
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==啊 (a) expressing certainty or urgency==
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==啊 (a) 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.
 
啊 (a) can also add a sense of certainty or urgency to a statement, sometimes with the feeling of an order.
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</div>
 
</div>
  
==啊 (a) used in questions==
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==啊 (a) Used in Questions==
  
 
Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.
 
Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.
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* 你 傻 <em>啊</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <em>a</em>? </span> <span class="trans">What are you, stupid? </span>
 
* 你 傻 <em>啊</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <em>a</em>? </span> <span class="trans">What are you, stupid? </span>
 
* 看 什么 <em>啊</em> ? 没 见 过 漂亮 姑娘 <em>啊</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Kàn shénme <em>a</em>?  Méi jiàn guò piàoliang gūniang <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before? </span>
 
* 看 什么 <em>啊</em> ? 没 见 过 漂亮 姑娘 <em>啊</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Kàn shénme <em>a</em>?  Méi jiàn guò piàoliang gūniang <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before? </span>
 
  
 
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Revision as of 08:54, 13 January 2017

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 (a) 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.)

  • Banging fist on table...Duì a! You're right!
  • 这里 好 漂亮 Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang a! This place is so pretty!
  • 没 问题 ! 我 帮 你。Méi wèntí a! Wǒ bāng nǐ. No problem! I'll help you.
  • 学 中文 真 难 Xué Zhōngwén zhēn nán a! Learning Chinese is so hard!
  • 好 香 !什么东西 ? Hǎo xiāng a! Shénme dōngxī? It smells great! What is it?

啊 (a) 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.

  • ,我 也 觉得 !Shì a, wǒ yě juéde! Definitely, I think so too!
  • 小心 Xiǎoxīn a! Be careful!
  • 可以 Kěyǐ a! It's fine!
  • 你 吃 !不要 不好意思。 Nǐ chī a! Bùyào bù hǎoyìsi. Eat some! Don't be shy.
  • 天天 加班, 累 Tiāntiān jiābān, lèi a! Working overtime every day is so tiring!

啊 (a) 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 Nǐ zǒu bù zǒu a? Are you going or what?
  • 你 吃 不 吃 Nǐ chī bù chī a? Are you eating or not?
  • 谁 说 的 Shéi shuō de a? Who said so?
  • 你 傻 Nǐ shǎ a? What are you, stupid?
  • 看 什么 ? 没 见 过 漂亮 姑娘 Kàn shénme a? Méi jiàn guò piàoliang gūniang a? What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books