When the foreign students study Chinese in China, they may encounter different kinds of modal particles. The modal particles are used to refer some particular tones and emotions. If used properly, they can add some particular tones to the expression of the sentence. Today we’ll study some modal particles which include啊,呕,欸,嚜,呢and 罢了. The group of modal particles is to indicate the attitudes and emotions of the speaker. But they differ in some points. Now let’s see them in the following paragraphs.
啊,呕and欸 begin with vowels. When people pronounce these words, they may have different pronunciations due to the influence of the syllables and finals in the front. If the front syllable is a soft voice, the three modal particles will combine into a syllable with the front syllable. Thus, the pronunciation of the sentence is like the following 这是我的啊, 上课了呕and 妈妈欸.
In all the modal particles, the word 啊 is the most widely used and it can be applied in all kinds of sentences. Learners will see the word frequently when they learn Chinese online free. When the word is used in the specific interrogation, alternative interrogation and positive and negative alternative interrogation, the modal particle 啊is used casually. For example, one can make the example such as 谁啊? 你骑车还是走路啊? If the word 啊is omitted in the sentences, the tone of such sentences will appear more straightforward. If the word 啊is used in the yes-no question, the aim of word is to confirm the intention or the words of the others.
The words 呕and 欸express the tone of reminding but the word 呕has the tint of urging. The word 欸 has the euphemistic tone and includes the sense that the thing has already by the other party and the reminding is to make him remember the thing. for example, one can make the sentence like 今天可是星期三欸!你可别忘了下午得去上课欸!
The words 嚜and 欸have opposite meanings. The word欸supposes that the event has been known by the other party while the word 嚜supposes that the other party does not know the event. The word 呢expresses the tone of exaggeration. The words 罢了and 呢 have opposite meanings. One can make examples like 五百块钱呢！不是闹着玩儿的 and五百块钱罢了！不是闹着玩儿的。