<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta name="generator" content= "HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Linux version 5.2.0" /> <title></title> </head> <body> <p>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.</p> <h2 id="啊-a-expressing-exclamation">啊 (a) Expressing Exclamation</h2> <p>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.)</p> <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>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></li> <li>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></li> <li>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></li> <li>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></li> <li>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></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="啊-a-expressing-certainty-or-urgency">啊 (a) Expressing Certainty or Urgency</h2> <p>啊 (a) can also add a sense of certainty or urgency to a statement, sometimes with the feeling of an order.</p> <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>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></li> <li>行 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xíng <em>a</em>!</span><span class="trans">All right!</span></li> <li>可以 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Kěyǐ <em>a</em>!</span> <span class="trans">It's fine!</span></li> <li>小心 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xiǎoxīn <em>a</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Be careful!</span></li> <li>吃 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chī <em>a</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Eat some!</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="啊-a-used-in-questions">啊 (a) Used in Questions</h2> <p>Finally, it can be used with questions, again with a sense of urgency or concern for the listener.</p> <h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>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></li> <li>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></li> <li>谁 说 的 <em>啊</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Shéi shuō de <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Who said so?</span></li> <li>你 傻 <em>啊</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <em>a</em>?</span> <span class="trans">What are you, stupid?</span></li> <li>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></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li><a href="Questions_with_ne" title="wikilink">Questions with ne</a></li> <li><a href="Suggestions_with_ba" title="wikilink">Suggestions with ba</a></li> <li><a href="Listing_Things_with_"a"" title= "wikilink">Listing Things with "a"</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href= "A_Practical_Chinese_Grammar_For_Foreigners_(%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%BA%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95)" title="wikilink">A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)</a> (pp.142-3) <a href= "http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2" title= "wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2</a> (pp. 51-4) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881"> →buy</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="Category:_A2_grammar_points" title="wikilink">Category: A2 grammar points</a> <a href="Category:_Particles" title= "wikilink">Category: Particles</a></p> </body> </html>