啦 (la) — (modal particle, sentence-final) used in casual speech to express exclamation, reminder, urgency, or a lighthearted mood
Definition
啦 is a sentence-final particle used in casual speech — it softens a statement, reminds someone, or adds an upbeat mood. It's often interchangeable with 吧 but carries a lighter, more exclamatory feel.
particle
(modal particle, sentence-final) used in casual speech to express exclamation, reminder, urgency, or a lighthearted mood
Easily confused
Examples
- 啦！Jīn tiān tiān qì zhēn hǎo la!The weather is really nice today!
- 啦。Bié wàng le dài yào shi la.Don't forget to bring the keys.
- 啦，。Wǒ men kuài zǒu la, diàn yǐng yào kāi shǐ le.Let's hurry—the movie is about to start.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
啦 pairs 口 (mouth) with 拉, which gives the pronunciation lā. The 口 part points to the mouth.
Appears in
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