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  <h1>Sentence-final interjection "<span class="pinyinst">a</span>" "<span class="hanzist">啊</span>"</h1>

  <p>The interjection <span class="hanzi">啊 </span>(<span class="pinyin">a</span>) 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"><span class="hanzist">啊</span> (<span class="pinyinst">a</span>) Expressing Exclamation</h2>

  <p>When used like this, <span class="hanzi">啊</span> (<span class="pinyin">a</span>) 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="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">对 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！</span><br/> <span class="vert">Banging fist on table...</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Duì <span class="fondjaune">a</span> </span> <br/> You're right!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这里 好 漂亮 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ hǎo piàoliang <span class="fondjaune">a</span>!</span><br/> This place is so pretty!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 家 真 大 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā zhēn dà <span class="fondjaune">a</span>!</span><br/> Your house is so big.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">学 中文 真 难 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Xué Zhōngwén zhēn nán <span class="fondjaune">a</span> </span> <br/> Learning Chinese is so hard!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">好 香 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！什么东西 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Hǎo xiāng <span class="fondjaune">a</span>! Shénme dōngxi?</span><br/> It smells great! What is it?</li>
    </ul>
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  <h2 id="啊-a-expressing-certainty-or-urgency"><span class="hanzist">啊</span> (<span class="pinyinst">a</span>) Expressing Certainty or Urgency</h2>

  <p><span class="hanzi">啊</span> (<span class="pinyin">a</span>) 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="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">是 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ，我 也 觉得 ！</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Shì <span class="fondjaune">a</span>, wǒ yě juéde!</span><br/> Definitely, I think so too!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">行 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Xíng <span class="fondjaune">a</span>!</span><br/> All right!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">可以 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Kěyǐ <span class="fondjaune">a</span>!</span><br/> It's fine!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">小心 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Xiǎoxīn <span class="fondjaune">a</span> </span> <br/> Be careful!</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">吃 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ！</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Chī <span class="fondjaune">a</span>!</span><br/> Eat some!</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="啊-a-used-in-questions"><span class="hanzist">啊</span> (<span class="pinyinst">a</span>) 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="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 走 不 走 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ？</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zǒu bu zǒu <span class="fondjaune">a</span>?</span><br/> Are you going or what?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 吃 不 吃 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ chī bu chī <span class="fondjaune">a</span>?</span><br/> Are you eating or not?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">谁 说 的 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Shéi shuō de <span class="fondjaune">a</span>?</span><br/> Who said so?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 傻 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <span class="fondjaune">a</span> </span> <br/>What are you, stupid?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">看 什么 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ？没 见 过 漂亮 姑娘 <span class="fondjaune">啊</span> ？</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Kàn shénme <span class="fondjaune">a</span>? Méi jiàn guo piàoliang gūniang <span class="fondjaune">a</span>?</span><br/> What are you looking at? Have you never seen a pretty girl before?</li>
    </ul>
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  <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_&quot;a&quot;" 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 Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (<span class="hanzi">外国人实用汉语语法</span>) (pp.142-3)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 51-4)</li>
  </ul>
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