懂中文 Dong Chinese

呀

ya

particle used to express surprise or mild emphasis

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 牙 represents the sound.

Components
口 meaning component

口  Meaning component

kǒu

  

mouth

牙 sound component

牙  Sound component

yá

  

tooth

Evolution

呀 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
呀 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

呀  

ya

particle used to express surprise or mild emphasis; (Cant.) slurred form of the number ten; (particle equivalent to 啊 after a vowel, expressing surprise or doubt)

Most common words with 呀
Freq.
Word
Meaning

呀

(particle equivalent to 啊 after a vowel, expressing surprise or doubt)

哎呀

interjection of wonder, shock or admiration

啊呀

Oh my!

天呀

Heavens!