aa1 maa3吖嘛
Jyutpingaa1 maa3
Yaleā ma
Definition
Sentence-final particle used to point out a fact that should be obvious or already known to the listener.
colloquialparticle
How it's used
This particle adds a tone of obviousness or reminder to a statement, implying that the listener should have already known or considered the information. It often functions to justify a previous action or to explain why a certain outcome is expected. When used at the end of a sentence, it softens the tone while asserting a fact that the speaker feels is beyond dispute.
Examples
He is my good friend, of course he will help.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 吖嘛 with 㗎嘛. While both imply obviousness, 㗎嘛 is typically used to point out a fact that the listener has ignored or forgotten, whereas 吖嘛 focuses more on the inherent nature or logical consequence of a situation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
