啊
Character learning workspace

ā / á / ǎ / à / a · ah, exclamatory particle

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 3HSK 3.0 · Level 2Frequency #47
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Learn every stroke in 啊

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

啊 has 5 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

ā

interjection of surprise; Ah!; Oh!

啊呀ā yā · interjection of surprise
á

interjection expressing doubt or requiring answer; Eh?; what?

ǎ

interjection of surprise or doubt; Eh?; My!

à

interjection or grunt of agreement; uhm; Ah, OK

a

modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation, approval, or consent

天啊tiān a · good heavens!
Step-by-step explorer

See how 啊 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

10Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

口Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 啊 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 啊 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ bù xiǎng yào nǐ sǐ a.我不想要你死啊。

I don't want you to die.

Source: Tatoeba #10667161 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ huí lái le! a? yǒu rén lái kàn wǒ men ma?我回来了!啊?有人来看我们吗?

I'm back! Oh? Have we got a guest?

Source: Tatoeba #8652759 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zǒu le a.我走了啊。

I'm taking off.

Source: Tatoeba #3865800 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ dāng nǐ shì shuí a?你当你是谁啊?

Who do you think you are?

Source: Tatoeba #11235954 · CC BY 2.0 FR
- hēi, shì nǐ má ? - shì a, shì wǒ.-嗨,是你嗎? -是啊,是我。

"Hi, is this you?" "Yes, this is me."

Source: Tatoeba #2757103 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ huí lái le! a? wǒ men yǒu kè rén a?我回来了!啊?我们有客人啊?

I'm back! Oh? Have we got a guest?

Source: Tatoeba #437448 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 啊 in context

  1. Say ā / á / ǎ / à / a, then recall the core meaning: ah, exclamatory particle.
  2. Write all 10 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 天啊 (tiān a), meaning “good heavens!”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 啊 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.