啦

• Pinyin: la
• Hanzi breakdown: 啦 = 口 (mouth) + 拉 (pull, phonetic), a sentence-final particle

Meaning

A modal particle combining 了 and 啊, expressing exclamation, change of state, or urging.

Used at sentence end to soften tone, express mild exclamation, or indicate a change that affects the listener. Often conveys impatience, urging, or friendly reminders. More colloquial than 了 alone. Common patterns: 走啦 (let's go!), 好啦好啦 (okay okay), 别说啦 (stop talking already).

Examples

1. 别催啦，我马上就好，再给我五分钟。 Stop rushing me, I'll be ready soon, just give me five more minutes.
2. 快点儿啦，电影都要开始了，再不走就来不及了。 Hurry up already, the movie is about to start; if we don't leave now we'll be late.
3. 行啦行啦，这件事我知道了，你不用再重复了。 Okay okay, I got it about this matter, you don't need to keep repeating yourself.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, urging, casual

Tone: colloquial

Do Say

• 走啦，大家都在等你呢！(Let's go, everyone's waiting for you!)
• 好啦，我知道错了。(Okay okay, I know I was wrong.)

Don't Say

• 在正式书面语中使用啦 (啦 is purely colloquial — use 了 in formal writing)

Origin & History

A fusion of the aspect particle 了 (le) and the exclamatory particle 啊 (a), creating a softer, more colloquial sentence-final particle.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal