哇

wā

HSK 6

哇 — wā

1. Expressive interjection: wow!, used to show surprise, admiration or amazement.

   哇，这座桥真漂亮！ wa zhè zuò qiáo zhēn piàoliàng — Wow, this bridge is really beautiful!

2. Onomatopoeic sound of a child crying or wailing.

   宝宝一喊，哇哇大哭了。 bǎobǎo yī hǎn wāwādàkū le — The baby cried “wah wah” loudly as soon as he cried out.

3. Onomatopoeic sound of retching or vomiting.

   他吃坏了肚子，在洗手间里一直哇哇地吐。 tā chī huài le dǔzi zài xǐshǒujiān lǐ yìzhí wāwādì tǔ — He had a stomach upset and kept retching “wah wah” in the bathroom.

哇 — wa

1. Sentence-final particle used like 啊 (a) but replacing it after the vowels "u" or "ao" (spoken colloquial usage).

   你去不去哇？ nǐ qùbùqù wa — Are you going (or not)?