Meanings of 啦
By ear
Play it, then pick what 啦 means.
About 啦
Podcast: 啦
Podcast: 啦
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 啦
Learners often confuse 啦 with other sentence-final particles like 吧 (ba) or 呢 (ne), leading to incorrect usage. Remember that 啦 is more informal and is used for exclamations or to add a playful tone. It is also important to use it sparingly in formal contexts.
As an HSK Level 6 word, 啦 is useful for advanced learners who are expanding their understanding of sentence structure and emotional expression in Mandarin. Focus on how it can change the tone of a sentence when added at the end.
Learners often confuse 啦 with 吧 (ba), using them interchangeably; for example, saying '你来吧' (nǐ lái ba) instead of '你来啦' (nǐ lái lā) when trying to express excitement. Remember, 啦 is more playful and informal.
Pronunciation of 啦
Drill the tone of 啦, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 啦 to you
Let me explain 啦 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 啦 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 啦?
Learning Lab
Knowing 啦 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 啦
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 拉 represents the sound.
mouth
Origin
啦 = 口 + 拉. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 啦
Parts
Which of these is part of 啦?
How to say sentence-final particle, contraction of 了啊, indicating exclamation in Chinese
“sentence-final particle, contraction of 了啊, indicating exclamation” in Chinese is啦
The character 啦 (lā) is often used as a sentence-final particle in Mandarin, indicating emphasis or exclamation, similar to saying 'come on' or 'you know' in English. It can also represent the sound of singing or cheering, and is commonly used in informal speech, particularly in dialects where it might mean 'to chat'.
When to use 啦
Learners often confuse 啦 with other sentence-final particles like 吧 (ba) or 呢 (ne), leading to incorrect usage. Remember that 啦 is more informal and is used for exclamations or to add a playful tone. It is also important to use it sparingly in formal contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 啦 with 吧 (ba), using them interchangeably; for example, saying '你来吧' (nǐ lái ba) instead of '你来啦' (nǐ lái lā) when trying to express excitement. Remember, 啦 is more playful and informal.
Write 啦
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 啦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 啦
啦 functions as a grammatical particle — it carries no standalone meaning but signals a grammatical relationship. Particles attach to specific positions in the sentence (clause-final 吗/吧/呢, post-verbal 了/过/着, post-noun 的) and rarely move. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
成与不成，都看你的____！
Whether it works out or not, it all depends on you!
Example sentences for 啦 (16)
Rebuild it
Rebuild it: “Today's performance was amazing!”
Ask Jason
Have a question about 啦?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 啦
Words with 啦
What does 啦啦队 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 啦
It typically adds emphasis or excitement, like saying 'you know?' or 'come on!' at the end of a statement.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 啦?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.