ah
/ɑ(ː)/ particle C2- Marks a yes–no tag question prompting the listener to clarify or confirm something. · Pitch contour: low-mid /ɑ(ː)˨/, [ä˨]· You’re dyslexic ah?
- Reinforces a short, non-rhetorical wh-question. · Pitch contour: rising /ɑ(ː)˨˦/· How do you delete this row ah?
- Emphasizes the need for absolute confirmation, permission or acknowledgment. · Pitch contour: rising /ɑ(ː)˨˦/· Don’t drink and drive ah...
- A particle indicating the topic of a sentence from its comment. · Pitch contour: rising /ɑ(ː)˨˦/· The drilling upstairs ah, non-stop leh.
- A confirmative final particle used in the middle of a sentence to ascertain the continued attention of the listener. · Pitch contour: rising /ɑ(ː)˨˦/· Near-synonym: right
- Tagged at the end of non-interrogative sentence to convey a sense of informality or resignation. · Pitch contour: mid-falling /ɑ(ː)˧˨/
- A vocative particle, used for direct address (over telephone calls, or to directly address the listener). · Pitch contour: low-mid /ɑ(ː)˨/· Hello? Joey ah?
- Used as an intensifier in fixed expressions, sometimes exhortative in meaning. · Pitch contour: mid-falling /ɑ(ː)˧˨/, low-mid /ɑ(ː)˨/· Heng ah...
From the library
Ah, far enough, my dear,
Ah, never to return again!
Ah, _that’s_ the great puzzle!” And she began thinking over all the children she knew that were of the same age as herself, to see if she could have been changed for any of them.
“What a pity it wouldn’t stay!” sighed the Lory, as soon as it was quite out of sight; and an old Crab took the opportunity of saying to her daughter “Ah, my dear!
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