啊
Meanings · aa1
- modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation
- approval
- surprise
- appreciation
- consent
- request for an answer or confirmation
Meanings · aa2
- modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation
- approval
- surprise
- appreciation
- consent
- request for an answer or confirmation
Meanings · aa3
- modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation
- approval
- surprise
- appreciation
- consent
- request for an answer or confirmation
Meanings · aa4
- modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation
- approval
- surprise
- appreciation
- consent
- request for an answer or confirmation
Meanings · haa2
- modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation
- approval
- surprise
- appreciation
- consent
- request for an answer or confirmation
Meanings · haa4
- modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation
- approval
- surprise
- appreciation
- consent
- request for an answer or confirmation
About these definitions
Source definition segments, in their original order. Characters a definition cites are shown without their Mandarin pinyin; classifier lists that CC-Canto copied from CC-CEDICT are marked Mandarin. The community dictionary is not independently verified by zimai.
Reading & tones
Schematic citation-tone diagrams from the source numbers. These are not recordings or predictions of connected speech.
Same syllable, six tones
Characters whose customary Unihan reading (kCantonese) is this syllable in each tone, chosen as in the tone atlas (2013 standard level, then the number of CC-CEDICT words they form), with CC-Canto 2017's meaning for that reading; a dash means no catalogue character has that reading. Checked syllables (-p, -t, -k) normally carry tones 1, 3 and 6. Character readings, not word readings; no frequency implied.
Written characters
Both source spellings are represented. Written membership is not an etymological or semantic claim.
Mandarin comparison · separate source entries
CC-CEDICT, the Mandarin–English dictionary, lists the same written form:
- 啊 ā CC-CEDICT · Mandarininterjection of surprise; Ah!; Oh!
- 啊 á CC-CEDICT · Mandarininterjection expressing doubt or requiring answer; Eh?; what?
- 啊 ǎ CC-CEDICT · Mandarininterjection of surprise or doubt; Eh?; My!; what's up?
A separate source entry, shown for comparison. The same characters can carry different senses in Mandarin and in Cantonese; zimai does not align these senses.
CC-Canto includes this pinyin reference: a5. It does not establish a Mandarin word with the same meaning.
Look up this spelling in the Mandarin dictionary ↗Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 14 senses · 4 Cantonese readings
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
a3 · aa2 · aa3 · o3
Cantonese word readings for 啊. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character · Etymology 1
- Used as an initial interjection particle to express surprise. ah, oh, ha
- (Taiwanese Hokkien) Used as an initial interjection particle to raise a topic or change the mood. ah, oh, huh
character · Etymology 2
- Used as a final particle to indicate, focus on, or exclaim a topic, subject, declaration, and acts as a filler pause especially when enumerating or changing topic.
- Used as a final particle to express exhortation.
- Used as a final particle to seek for listener's confirmation.
character · Etymology 3
- Used to indicate doubt or questioning. what?, huh?, eh
character · Etymology 4
- Used to indicate puzzled surprise. what? oh? huh?
character · Etymology 5
- Used to indicate agreement/approval. ah
character · Etymology 6
- Sentence-final particle expressing surprise.
- Sentence-final particle expressing exclamation, excitement or enthusiasm.
- Sentence-final particle softening the request.
- Used in enumerations, for confirmation (often untranslated).
- on and on, continuously
character · Etymology 7
- (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.
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack