28.4 The Sentence Particle 呀吓 aa3 haa2 (Reminder)
We can use the sentence particle 呀吓 aa3 haa2 to form a reminder that asks the listener to pay attention to or to be careful of something. In the context of this lesson, the server at the restaurant will use 呀吓 aa3 haa2 to signal they will do something and remind us to pay attention or be careful. Notice this sentence particle has two syllables, unlike the other sentence particles we have covered previously.
我幫你哋收一收啲餐牌呀吓。
ngo5 bong1 nei5 dei6 sau1 jat1 sau1 di1 caan1 paai2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the menus for you.
The speaker will collect the menus on the table so the speaker reminds the listener to be careful. 啲餐牌 di1 caan1 paai2 means ‘the menus’. We will learn to say ‘the …’ in later lessons.
我複一複呀吓。
ngo5 fuk1 jat1 fuk1 aa3 haa2.
I will repeat it.
The speaker will repeat what the listener has ordered so the speaker reminds the listener to pay attention and check if everything is correct.
呀吓 aa3 haa2 is sometimes contracted as 呀 aa2 or 吓 haa2.
我幫你哋收一收啲餐牌呀。
ngo5 bong1 nei5 dei6 sau1 jat1 sau1 di1 caan1 paai2 aa2.
我幫你哋收一收啲餐牌吓。
ngo5 bong1 nei5 dei6 sau1 jat1 sau1 di1 caan1 paai2 haa2.
I will collect the menus for you.