啊
啊 can be a modal particle or an interjection. Let's look at both of them.
The modal particle 啊
Pay attention
A modal particle (语气词) is a function word that adds additional semantic meanings to the sentence or emotionally colors it. It is usually placed at the end of a sentence.
The particle 啊 
is placed at the end of the sentence and can be used as a greeting, question, exclamation, request or order.
is placed at the end of the sentence and can be used as a greeting, question, exclamation, request or order.Let's look at all the functions of the particle 啊.
1) Used as an exclamation in a sentence to express admiration or delight. These sentences are usually communicated with emotionally colored words and an exclamatory intonation.
Examples
对啊！
Right!
duì a
好漂亮啊！
How beautiful!
hǎo piàoliang a
Pay attention
After words that end in -a, -o, -e, -i, -ü, 啊 is pronounced like ya.
2) Used in an imperative sentence to express confidence and insistence with the commanding tone.
Examples
别忘了啊！
Don't forget!
bié wàng le a
快走啊！
Go faster!
kuài zǒu a
3) Used at the end of a question to make the tone less harsh and express concern or worry.
Examples
你今天怎么这么闷闷不乐啊？
Why are you so sad today?
nǐ jīntiān zěnme zhème mènmènbúlè a
要去哪儿啊？
Where are you going?
yào qù nǎr a
啊 in enumeration
The particle 啊 can be placed in the middle of a sentence. In colloquial speech, it can be placed after each of the homogeneous parts of the sentence as enumeration.
can be placed in the middle of a sentence. In colloquial speech, it can be placed after each of the homogeneous parts of the sentence as enumeration. Pay attention
A comma “、” must be put between the homogeneous parts of the sentence.
Examples
他们唱啊、跳啊，一宿没睡
They sang, danced, and stayed up all night
tāmen chàng a, tiào a, yí sù méi shuì
车啊、房子啊、钱啊，什么都有的
We have everything: a car, an apartment, and money
chē a, fángzi a, qián a shénme dōu yǒu de
The repetition of 啊 a few times is used as literary device. For example, it can be placed after vocative words or after verbs to express the duration of an action.
Examples
我们等啊等啊，等的消息
We kept waiting and waiting for news from him
wǒmen děng a děng a, děng tā de xiāoxi
雨啊，雨啊，快走开
Rain, rain, go away!
yǔ a, yǔ a, kuài zǒukāi
The interjection 啊
Pay attention
An interjection (感叹词) is a word or expression that occurs as an utterance on its own and expresses a spontaneous feeling or reaction. It expresses feelings and emotions but does not name them. It is usually placed at the beginning of a sentence.
As an interjection 啊 can stand at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
It has several functions and several pronunciation options. Let us look at each of them:
1) 啊 expresses surprise.
It can be translated as “ah”, “oh”.
expresses surprise.
It can be translated as “ah”, “oh”.Examples
啊，你原来在这儿
Ah, you are here.
ā, nǐ yuánlái zài zhèr
2) 啊 expresses a question or a request to repeat something again.
It can be translated as “Huh?”, “eh?”.
expresses a question or a request to repeat something again.
It can be translated as “Huh?”, “eh?”.Examples
我们能继续干下去吗，啊？
We can keep doing this, huh?
wǒmen néng jìxù gàn xiàqu ma, á
啊？你说什么？
Huh? What did you say?
á? nǐ shuō shénme
3) 啊 expresses puzzlement.
It can be translated as “ehm”, “umm”.
expresses puzzlement.
It can be translated as “ehm”, “umm”.Examples
啊！怎么了?
Umm, what's the matter?
ă! zěnme le
啊！你怎么吃得下那种东西？
Umm.. How do you eat that?
ă! nǐ zěnme chīdexià nà zhǒng dōngxi
4) 啊 is pronounced with a short sound and expresses agreement.
It can be translated as “aha”, “okay”.
is pronounced with a short sound and expresses agreement.
It can be translated as “aha”, “okay”.Examples
啊，好吧
Aha, okay!
à, hǎo ba
5) 啊 is pronounced as a prolonged sound. It is used when something is revealed and expresses understanding.
It can be translated as “aah”, “that's what this is”.
is pronounced as a prolonged sound. It is used when something is revealed and expresses understanding.
It can be translated as “aah”, “that's what this is”.Examples
啊，明白了！
Ah, I got it!
à, míngbái le