How to list things in Chinese with 啊 (a)
Noun 1 + 啊 (a), Noun 2 + 啊 (a)…
Listing things with "啊 (a)"
Noun 1 + 啊 (a), Noun 2 + 啊 (a)…
HSK 5Auxiliary WordsListing things with "啊 (a)"
Rule structure
啊 (a) can be used after each item in a list to make the enumeration more casual, lively, or emphatic. It is common in colloquial speech.
Rule structure
啊 (a) can be used after each item in a list to make the enumeration more casual, lively, or emphatic. It is common in colloquial speech.
Examples
书啊，笔啊，本子啊，买了一大堆。
Shū a, bǐ a, běnzi a, mǎi le yī dà duī.
Books, pens, notebooks — bought a whole bunch.
Examples
书啊，笔啊，本子啊，买了一大堆。
Shū a, bǐ a, běnzi a, mǎi le yī dà duī.
Books, pens, notebooks — bought a whole bunch.
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Frequently asked questions
How do you express “Listing things with "啊 (a)"” in Chinese?
Use the structure: Noun 1 + 啊 (a), Noun 2 + 啊 (a)…. For example: 书啊，笔啊，本子啊，买了一大堆。 — “Books, pens, notebooks — bought a whole bunch.”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
书啊，笔啊，本子啊，买了一大堆。 — “Books, pens, notebooks — bought a whole bunch.”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 5 grammar rules
Complement "-坏了 (huàile)"
Verb / Adj. + 坏了 (huàile)
Expressing "what if" with "万一 (wànyī)"
万一 (wànyī) + (Undesirable) Condition + 怎么办 (zěnme bàn)？
Expressing "even if…" with "就是 (jiùshì)"
就是 (jiùshì)⋯⋯，也 (yě)⋯⋯
Continuing state with "还 (hái)…呢 (ne)"
Subj. + 还 (hái) + Predicate + 呢 (ne)
Expressing "related to…" with "有关的 (yǒuguān de)"
跟 (gēn) / 和 (hé) / 与 (yǔ) + Noun + 有关的 (yǒuguān de) + Noun
Adjectival complement "得很 (de hěn)"
Adj. + 得很 (de hěn)
Expressing "how about" with "要不 (yàobù)"
要不 (yàobù) + Suggestion / Option
Using "来 (lái)" and "去 (qù)" when "verbing around"
Verb 1 + 来 (lái) + Verb 1 + 去 (qù)