The particle なあ

QuestionAnswer
versatile and expressive particle often used in conversational Japanese to convey a range of emotions, from reflection and emphasis to longing and admiration
なあnaa
This is delicious!
美お味いしい なあ。oisii naa.

なあ is used here to express emotional emphasis

It's so beautiful.
きれい だ なあ。kirei da naa.

なあ is used here to express emotional emphasis

It's hot, isn't it?
暑あつい なあ。atui naa.

なあ is used here to seek agreement or confirmation

He's kind, don't you think?
彼かれ は 優やさしい なあ。kare ha yasasii naa.

なあ is used here to seek agreement or confirmation

It's a difficult problem.
難むずかしい 問もん題だい だ なあ。muzukasii mondai da naa.

なあ is used here to express reflection or thoughtfulness

I'm thinking...
考かんがえる なあ。。。kangaeru naa...

なあ is used here to express reflection or thoughtfulness

There's not enough time, is there.
時じ間かん が 足たりない なあ。zikan ga tarinai naa.

なあ is used here to both express reflectiveness and seek confirmation

I want to travel again.
また 旅りょ行こうしたい なあ。mata ryokousitai naa.

なあ is used here to express desire or longing

I wish I were young again.
若わかかった なあ。wakakatta naa.

なあ is used here to express desire or longing

I wonder if we can meet again.
また 会あえる か なあ。mata aeru ka naa.

なあ is used here to express a mix of desire and reflectiveness

It's all right now, I guess.
もう 大だい丈じょう夫ぶ だ なあ。mou daizyoubu da naa.

なあ is used here to express a soft, reflective assertion

trust
信しん頼らいsinrai
trustworthy; able to be trusted
信しん頼らい できるsinrai dekiru

The structure [noun] + できる is a common way to express the ability or possibility related to the noun. This construction turns the noun into an adjective describing the noun that follows.

He's a trustworthy person, I'd say.
彼かれ は 信しん頼らい できる 人ひと だ なあ。kare ha sinrai dekiru hito da naa.

なあ is used here to express a soft, reflective assertion

Contributors