{{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).

== Sentence-Final Structure ==

<div class="jiegou">

Statement + 嘛

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* 你的 妹妹 很 漂亮 <em>嘛</em>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de mèimei hěn piàoliang <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your sister is pretty.</span>
* 中国 人口 很 多 <em>嘛</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó rénkǒu hěn duō <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">The Chinese population is huge.</span>
* 美国人 很 开放 <em>嘛</em>。<span class="pinyin">Měiguó rén hěn kāifàng <em>ma</em>.</span><span class="trans">Americans are very open-minded.</span>

</div>

== Topic-Marking Structure ==

An alternate form is:

<div class="jiegou">

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>，孩子们都很喜欢。<span class="pinyin">Dà xióngmāo <em>ma</em>, háizimen dōu hěn xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">Pandas. All children like them.</span>
* 男人 <em>嘛</em>，总是要喝点酒，抽点烟。<span class="pinyin">Nánrén <em>ma</em>, zǒng shì yào hē diǎn jiǔ, chōu diǎn yān.</span><span class="trans">Men. They're always going to drink and smoke.</span>

</div>

==See  also==
*[[Yes-no questions with "ma"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

*[[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)]] (pp. 225) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy] [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B002ZNK7JE&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B002ZNK7JE →买]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 19) [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]
* [[Intermediate Chinese - A Grammar and Workbook]] (Unit 23) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415160391/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0415160391 →buy]

=== 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]

[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Particles]]
{{Similar|Yes-no questions with ma}}
{{Basic Grammar|嘛|B1|⋯⋯嘛|她 是 女孩子 <em>嘛</em>。当然 喜欢 花。|grammar point|ASGVMC4B}}
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Used for|Exclaiming}}
{{POS|Particles}}