ChineseGrammarWiki/ancien/Chinese-Grammar-Wiki/MD/A2/48.mw

{{Grammar Box}} 
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 ===

<div class="liju">

* 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>
* 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>
* 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>

</div>

==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 ===

<div class="liju">

* 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>
* 行 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xíng <em>a</em>!</span><span class="trans">All right! </span>
* 可以 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Kěyǐ <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">It's fine!</span>
* 小心 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Xiǎoxīn <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">Be careful!</span>
* 吃 <em>啊</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chī <em>a</em>! </span><span class="trans">Eat some! </span>

</div>

==啊 (a) Used in Questions==

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

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* 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 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>
* 谁 说 的 <em>啊</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Shéi shuō de <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">Who said so? </span>
* 你 傻 <em>啊</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shǎ <em>a</em>? </span><span class="trans">What are you, stupid? </span>
* 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>

==See also==
*[[Questions with ne]]
*[[Suggestions with ba]]
*[[Listing Things with "a"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

*[[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (pp.142-3) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 51-4) [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]

[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
[[Category: Particles ]]
{{Basic Grammar|啊|A2|⋯⋯啊|是 <em>啊</em>！谁 <em>啊</em>？|grammar point|ASGW66JM}}
{{Similar|Questions with ne}}
{{Similar|Suggestions with ba}} 
{{Similar|Listing Things with "a"}}
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Used for|Exclaiming}}
{{POS|Particles}}