阿 ā ah
an initial particle; prefix for names; used in transliterations
How to remember 阿: 阝 mound + 可 may = ah. The toddler on the sand mound may not know his aunt's name yet, so he just shouts a happy "ah" that makes her wave.
Component breakdown
阿 = 阝 mound + 可 may
- 阝 mound
- 可 may
- 丁 nail
- 口 mouth
The toddler on the sand mound may not know his aunt's name yet, so he just shouts a happy "ah" that makes her wave.
How it came to be
A mound with may beside it for the sound. It named a bend in a hillside first. Now it carries a syllable, in front of a name or on its own as a cry.
How it is used
- An unstressed prefix that makes names and kin terms familiar - 阿姨 (āyí) auntie, 阿哥 (āgē) big brother; southern dialects love it (阿明 = 'lil Ming').
- Also the sound 'a' in transliterations: 阿拉伯 (Ālābó) Arab, 阿姆斯特丹 (Āmǔsītèdān) Amsterdam.
- Watch the readings: prefix/name use is ā, but 阿谀 (ēyú) to flatter uses ē - different reading, different sense.
Characters built with 阿
Words with 阿
Example sentences
- 我是她的阿姨。 Wǒ shì tā de āyí.I am her aunt.