啊

啊 U+554A, 啊 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-554A ← 啉 [U+5549] CJK Unified Ideographs 啋 → [U+554B]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

啊 (Kangxi radical 30, 口+8, 11 strokes, cangjie input 口弓中口 (RNLR), four-corner 6102₀, composition ⿰口阿)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 195, character 4
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 3808
• Dae Jaweon: page 416, character 5
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 634, character 18
• Unihan data for U+554A

Chinese

Glyph origin

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声): semantic 口 (“mouth”) + phonetic 阿 (OC *qaːl).

Etymology 1

simp. and trad.		啊

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): ā (a¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄚ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): aa¹
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): a / ah / --a / --ah

  (Teochew, Peng'im): a⁷

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁰a

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: ā
    • Zhuyin: ㄚ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: a
    • Wade–Giles: a¹
    • Yale: ā
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: a
    • Palladius: а (a)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀä⁵⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: aa¹
    • Yale: ā
    • Cantonese Pinyin: aa¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: a¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /aː⁵⁵/

Note: The zero initial /∅-/ is commonly pronounced with a ng-initial /ŋ-/ in some varieties of Cantonese, including Hong Kong Cantonese.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese, Philippines)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: a
    • Tâi-lô: a
    • Phofsit Daibuun: af
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /a⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou, Philippines): /a³³/
  • (Hokkien: General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ah
    • Tâi-lô: ah
    • Phofsit Daibuun: aq
    • IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung): /aʔ³²/
  • (Hokkien: General Taiwanese, Philippines)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: --a
    • Tâi-lô: --a
  • (Hokkien: General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: --ah
    • Tâi-lô: --ah
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: a⁷
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: ā
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /a¹¹/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁰a
    • MiniDict: a
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ⁰a
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /a/

Definitions

啊

1. Used by itself to express surprise. ah, oh, ha

   啊！我又贏了！ [MSC, trad.]
   啊！我又赢了！ [MSC, simp.]

   Ā! Wǒ yòu yíng le! [Pinyin]

   Ha! I've won again!

2. Used to express affirmation or exhortation.

   好孩子，乖，聽話，啊！別哭了，啊！ [MSC, trad.]
   好孩子，乖，听话，啊！别哭了，啊！ [MSC, simp.]

   Hǎo háizi, guāi, tīnghuà, ā! Bié kū le, ā! [Pinyin]

   Good boy, be good, be obedient okay?! Don't cry okay?!

   我食飽咯啊 [Philippine Hokkien, trad.]
   我食饱咯啊 [Philippine Hokkien, simp.]

   Góa chia̍h-pá--lo͘--a [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

   I've eaten already, OK. / I'm full now, alright.

   • 你多乖呀，你是媽媽最乖的孩子了，啊！ [MSC, trad.]
     你多乖呀，你是妈妈最乖的孩子了，啊！ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2004, 《家有儿女》, episode 13

     Nǐ duó guāi ya, nǐ shì māma zuì guāi de háizi le, ā! [Pinyin]

     You're so good, you're your mother's most obedient child, huh?!

   • 哎，你什麼時候抽空兒給我們佳佳複習複習功課，讓她提高提高學習水平啊！ [MSC, trad.]
     哎，你什么时候抽空儿给我们佳佳复习复习功课，让她提高提高学习水平啊！ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2004, 《家有儿女》, episode 15

     Āi, nǐ shénme shíhou chōu kòngr gěi wǒmen Jiājia fùxí fùxí gōngkè, ràng tā tígāo tígāo xuéxí shuǐpíng ā! [Pinyin]

     Hey, when you take the time to give our Jiajia review homework, let her improve her studies, eh?!

Etymology 2

simp. and trad.		啊

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): á (a²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄚˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): aa²
• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁰a

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: á
    • Zhuyin: ㄚˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: á
    • Wade–Giles: a²
    • Yale: á
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ar
    • Palladius: а (a)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀä³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: aa²
    • Yale: á
    • Cantonese Pinyin: aa²
    • Guangdong Romanization: a²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /aː³⁵/

Note: The zero initial /∅-/ is commonly pronounced with a ng-initial /ŋ-/ in some varieties of Cantonese, including Hong Kong Cantonese.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁰a
    • MiniDict: a
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ⁰a
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /a/

Definitions

啊

1. Used to indicate doubt or questioning. what?, huh?, eh

   啊？你說什麼？ [MSC, trad.]
   啊？你说什么？ [MSC, simp.]

   Á? Nǐ shuō shénme? [Pinyin]

   Huh? What did you say?

Etymology 3

simp. and trad.		啊

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): ǎ (a³)

  (Zhuyin): ㄚˇ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: ǎ
    • Zhuyin: ㄚˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: ǎ
    • Wade–Giles: a³
    • Yale: ǎ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: aa
    • Palladius: а (a)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀä²¹⁴/

Definitions

啊

1. Used to indicate puzzled surprise. what? oh? huh?

   啊！真有這事兒？ [MSC, trad.]
   啊！真有这事儿？ [MSC, simp.]

   Ǎ! Zhēn yǒu zhè shìr? [Pinyin]

   What? Is that really so?

Etymology 4

simp. and trad.		啊

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): à (a⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄚˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): aa⁶
• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁰a; ⁰gha

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: à
    • Zhuyin: ㄚˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: à
    • Wade–Giles: a⁴
    • Yale: à
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ah
    • Palladius: а (a)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀä⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: aa⁶
    • Yale: ah
    • Cantonese Pinyin: aa⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: a⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /aː²²/

Note: The zero initial /∅-/ is commonly pronounced with a ng-initial /ŋ-/ in some varieties of Cantonese, including Hong Kong Cantonese.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁰a; ⁰gha
    • MiniDict: a; gha
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ⁰a; ⁰hha
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /a/, /ɦa/

Definitions

啊

1. Used to indicate agreement/approval. ah

   啊，好吧。  ―  À, hǎo ba.  ―  Well, OK.

Etymology 5

simp. and trad.		啊

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): a (a⁵／a⁰)

  (Zhuyin): ˙ㄚ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): aa³
• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁰a; ⁰gha

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: a
    • Zhuyin: ˙ㄚ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: å
    • Wade–Giles: a⁵
    • Yale: a
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: .a
    • Palladius: а (a)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀä/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: aa³
    • Yale: a
    • Cantonese Pinyin: aa³
    • Guangdong Romanization: a³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /aː³³/

Note: The zero initial /∅-/ is commonly pronounced with a ng-initial /ŋ-/ in some varieties of Cantonese, including Hong Kong Cantonese.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁰a; ⁰gha
    • MiniDict: a; gha
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ⁰a; ⁰hha
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /a/, /ɦa/

Definitions

啊

1. Sentence-final particle expressing surprise.

   你不來啊？／你不来啊？  ―  Nǐ bù lái a?  ―  So you're not coming?

2. Sentence-final particle expressing exclamation, excitement or enthusiasm.

   多好的天兒啊！／多好的天儿啊！  ―  Duō hǎo de tiānr a!  ―  What a fine day!

   謝謝啊／谢谢啊  ―  xièxiè a  ―  Thanks.

3. Sentence-final particle softening the request.

   老王啊，這可不行啊！ [MSC, trad.]
   老王啊，这可不行啊！ [MSC, simp.]

   Lǎo Wáng a, zhè kě bùxíng a! [Pinyin]

   Wang, this won't do!

4. Used in enumerations, for confirmation (often untranslated).

   錢啊，書啊，表啊，我都丟了。 [MSC, trad.]
   钱啊，书啊，表啊，我都丢了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Qián a, shū a, biǎo a, wǒ dōu diū le. [Pinyin]

   Money, books, watch, I lost everything.

5. on and on, continuously

Usage notes

In Standard Mandarin, this toneless particle is found in complementary distribution with several other particles, governed by the nature of the preceding syllable. However, this distinction is not strictly reflected in writing, and 啊 tends to an all-encompassing particle. Thus it may carry the pronunciation of any of its variants below in actual speech:

• -ng, ci, zi, si, chi, zhi, shi + [a] → 啊 (a)
• -a, -o, -e, -i, -ü + [a] → 呀 (ya)
• -u, -ao + [a] → 哇 (wa)
• -n + [a] → 哪 (na)

Synonyms

• (Cantonese) 呀

Compounds

• 啊呀 (āyā)
• 啊哈 (āhā)
• 啊唷 (āyō)
• 啊喲 / 啊哟 (āyō)
• 嗯啊
• (Hokkien) 揀啊揀，揀著一個賣龍眼 / 揀啊揀，揀著一个賣龍眼 / 拣啊拣，拣着一个卖龙眼 (kéng--ah kéng, kéng-tio̍h chi̍t ê bē lêng-géng) (Min Nan)

Descendants

• → English: ah (Singapore, Malaysia)

Etymology 6

simp. and trad.		啊
alternative forms		阿

From 下 (ha) (Chiang, 2013).

Pronunciation

• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): a

  (Hailu, HRS): a^˖

---

• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: a
    • Hakka Romanization System: a
    • Hagfa Pinyim: a⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /a⁵⁵/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: a^˖
    • Sinological IPA: /a³³/

Definitions

啊

1. (Hakka) Used between a verb and a complement to indicate that something has happened within a short time and/or is immediately followed by another event.
   • 2015, 黃瑋傑, “天光日”, in 《天光。日》‎^[1], performed by 黃瑋傑:

     1998年　𠊎出外讀書毋知遠　歸啊到屋下　就領到一領衫 [Sixian Hakka, trad.]
     1998年　𠊎出外读书毋知远　归啊到屋下　就领到一领衫 [Sixian Hakka, simp.]

     1998 ngiàn, ngài chhut-ngoi thu̍k-sû m̀ tî yán, kûi-a-to vuk-hâ, chhiu liâng to yit liâng sâm [Pha̍k-fa-sṳ]

     In 1998, I went away from home to study faraway. Once I went back home, I got a shirt.

References

• “啊”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

Japanese

Kanji

啊

(Hyōgai kanji)

1. Exclamatory particle

Readings

• Go-on: あ (a)
• Kan-on: あ (a)
• Kun: こえ (koe, 啊)^{←こゑ (kowe, 啊, historical)}

Korean

Hanja

啊 • (a) (hangeul 아, revised a, McCune–Reischauer a)

1. love

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

• 啞 (ạ)
• 亞 (a)

Han character

啊: Hán Việt readings: a
啊: Nôm readings: a, à, ơ, ạ

Interjection

啊

1. chữ Nôm form of a (“Used in the beginning of a sentence to indicate questioning: ah, oh, ha”).

   啊困碎！ ― A khốn tôi ! ― Ha! I'm so unlucky!