woliveri Posted March 22, 2010 at 02:38 PM Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 at 02:38 PM Seems my son uses this a lot only for like a rhyme or something.. I also catch my wife using it and the Advance pod casts at Chinesepod. Can anyone add to this? It's not a word like horse, scolding, etc and it's not there for a question particle. It's seems it's there just to rhyme out the sentence. Anyone catch this before? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiMaKe Posted March 22, 2010 at 04:37 PM Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 at 04:37 PM It might be the modal particle ma / 嘛 which according to nciku 1) indicates that something is obvious, 2) expresses a hope or gives advice or 3) is used to form a pause in a sentence, calling listener's attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris333 Posted March 23, 2010 at 02:45 AM Report Share Posted March 23, 2010 at 02:45 AM Is it "nàme" (那么) you're hearing? I hear this all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gougou Posted March 23, 2010 at 02:51 AM Report Share Posted March 23, 2010 at 02:51 AM Is it "nàme" (那么) you're hearing? I hear this all the timeAlso at the end of sentences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris333 Posted March 23, 2010 at 02:59 AM Report Share Posted March 23, 2010 at 02:59 AM Also at the end of sentences? No- I typically hear it as a pause. SiMaKe's post made me think of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted March 23, 2010 at 03:12 AM Report Share Posted March 23, 2010 at 03:12 AM It'll be 嘛. Either used to imply that something was obvious and probably didn't need to be stated, or to be a bit persuasive and whiny. If you're hearing it from wife and child they're probably using it to turn 'Please' into 'Pleeeeeaaase . . . ' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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