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

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The interjection 啊 (ā) is often added to the end of sentences to create one of the following effects:
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{{Grammar Box}}
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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.
  
* Friendliness
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==啊 (a) Expressing Exclamation==
* Enthusiasm (sometimes urgency)
 
* Cuteness
 
  
Which of these it means depends entirely on the context of use. It can be added to the end of most sentences, but be careful not to overuse it!
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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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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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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>
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* 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>
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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>
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* 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>
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* 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>
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</div>
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==啊 (a) Expressing Certainty or Urgency==
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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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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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* 是 <em>啊</em> ,我 也 觉得 !<span class="pinyin">Shì <em>a</em>, wǒ yě juéde! </span><span class="trans">Definitely, I think so too! </span>
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* 行 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Xíng <em>a</em>!</span><span class="trans">All right! </span>
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* 可以 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Kěyǐ <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">It's fine!</span>
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* 小心 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Xiǎoxīn <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">Be careful!</span>
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* 吃 <em>啊</em> !<span class="pinyin">Chī <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">Eat some! </span>
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</div>
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==啊 (a) Used in Questions==
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Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你好啊!
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* 你 走 不 走 <em>啊</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zǒu bu zǒu <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">Are you going or what? </span>
* 你怎么样啊?
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* 你 吃 不 吃 <em>啊</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ  chī bu chī <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">Are you eating or not? </span>
* 是啊!
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* 谁 说 的 <em>啊</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Shéi shuō de <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">Who said so? </span>
* 对啊!
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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>
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* 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 guo piàoliang gūniang <em>a</em>?</span><span class="trans">What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before? </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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==See also==
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*[[Questions with ne]]
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*[[Suggestions with ba]]
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*[[Listing Things with "a"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|107}}
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{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)|142-3}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|51-4}}
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[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
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[[Category: Particles ]]
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{{Basic Grammar|啊|A2|⋯⋯啊|是 <em>啊</em>!谁 <em>啊</em>?|grammar point|ASGW66JM}}
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{{Similar|Questions with ne}}
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{{Similar|Suggestions with ba}}
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{{Similar|Listing Things with "a"}}
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{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
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{{Used for|Exclaiming}}
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{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 09:21, 20 April 2021

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!
  • Xíng a!All right!
  • 可以 Kěyǐ a! It's fine!
  • 小心 Xiǎoxīn a! Be careful!
  • Chī a! Eat some!

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