4.5 The Sentence Particle 呀 aa3 III (Softening the Tone)

We can add the sentence particle 呀 aa3 to soften the tone of a sentence. For example, a sentence ending without any sentence particles may sound abrupt. We can add 呀 aa3 at the end of the sentence to make the tone a bit softer.

A:

你鍾唔鍾意睇書㗎？
nei5 zung1 m4 zung1 ji3 tai2 syu1 gaa3?
Do you like reading?

B:

1. 鍾意。
zung1 ji3.
Yes.
2. 鍾意呀。
zung1 ji3 aa3.
Yes.
The first answer ending without any sentence particles sounds abrupt. The second sentence ending with 呀 aa3 sounds a bit softer in the tone.

You may notice that 呀 aa3 can be used to add emphasis or soften the tone. The actual function of 呀 aa3 in a sentence depends on the meaning and the intonation of the sentence. Compare:

A:

你鍾唔鍾意睇書㗎？
nei5 zung1 m4 zung1 ji3 tai2 syu1 gaa3?
Do you like reading?

B:

1. 我勁鍾意睇書㗎(嘅 + 呀)。
ngo5 ging6 zung1 ji3 tai2 syu1 gaa3 (ge3 + aa3).
I like reading very, very much.
2. 鍾意呀。
zung1 ji3 aa3.
Yes.
The first answer has the degree word 勁 ging6 (‘strongly’) so 呀 aa3 is likely used to add emphasis. The second answer is simply a positive answer so 呀 aa3 is likely used to soften the tone only.