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啊 (a) — (modal particle) softens the tone, adds emotion, or makes suggestions more friendly

Definition

啊 is the most common softener particle in Chinese: it lightens statements, makes questions gentler, and turns commands into friendly suggestions (as in the examples). Pronounced as a short, neutral 'a'.

particle
(modal particle) softens the tone, adds emotion, or makes suggestions more friendly
Easily confused

Examples

  • 啊！
    Lái a!
    Come on!
  • 啊？
    Zhè shì nǐ de shū a?
    Is this your book?
  • 啊。
    Wǒ men yì qǐ qù a.
    Let's go together.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
阿
阿ā啊a
Same sound today

啊 is built from 口 (mouth) plus 阿, which provides the sound.

Grammar

Appears in
100 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 3.0 Level 2500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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