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

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* 对 <em>啊</em> !<span class="expl">Banging fist on table...</span><span class="pinyin">Duì <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">You're right!</span>
 
* 对 <em>啊</em> !<span class="expl">Banging fist on table...</span><span class="pinyin">Duì <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">You're right!</span>
 
* 这里 好 漂亮 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang <em>a</em>!</span> <span class="trans">This place is so pretty! </span>
 
* 这里 好 漂亮 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang <em>a</em>!</span> <span class="trans">This place is so pretty! </span>
* 没 问题 <em>啊</em> ! 我 帮 你。<span class="pinyin">Méi wèntí <em>a</em>! Wǒ bāng nǐ.</span> <span class="trans">No problem! I'll help you.</span>
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* 你 家 真 大 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā zhēn dà <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Your house is so big. </span>
 
* 学 中文 真 难 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén zhēn nán <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Learning Chinese is so hard!</span>
 
* 学 中文 真 难 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén zhēn nán <em>a</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Learning Chinese is so hard!</span>
 
* 好 香 <em>啊</em> !什么东西 ? <span class="pinyin">Hǎo xiāng <em>a</em>!  Shénme dōngxi? </span> <span class="trans">It smells great! What is it? </span>
 
* 好 香 <em>啊</em> !什么东西 ? <span class="pinyin">Hǎo xiāng <em>a</em>!  Shénme dōngxi? </span> <span class="trans">It smells great! What is it? </span>

Revision as of 08:30, 27 February 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.)

Examples

  • Banging fist on table...Duì a! You're right!
  • 这里 好 漂亮 Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang a! This place is so pretty!
  • 你 家 真 大 Nǐ jiā zhēn dà a! Your house is so big.
  • 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 dōngxi? 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.

Examples

  • ,我 也 觉得 !Shì a, wǒ yě juéde! Definitely, I think so too!
  • a! Be careful!
  • 可以 Kěyǐ a! It's fine!
  • 没 问题 Méi wèntí a! No problem!
  • 小心 Xiǎoxīn a! Be careful!

啊 (a) Used in Questions

Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.

Examples

  • 你 走 不 走 Nǐ zǒu bu zǒu a? Are you going or what?
  • 你 吃 不 吃 Nǐ chī bu 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 guo piàoliang gūniang a? What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books