<p>'e' is the older pronunciation and is used to reflect the older pronunciation in some particular words (usually more formal words), such as 阿胶 (ē jiāo, some animal gelatin), 阿房宫(ē páng gōng -- notice that 房 is pronounced páng instead of fáng), 阿谀奉承.</p>

<p>'a' is the modern and default pronunciation, used in translation of foreign names (e.g., Algebria - 阿尔及利亚) as well as some colloquial/informal addresses/names to express familiarity (e.g., 阿爸, 阿伯, 阿花)</p>

<p>You may treat 'e' as an irregular pronunciation and memorize irregular words.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-19T11:30:16.793Z
2014-07-19T11:30:16.793Z
user58955
<p>Yes, there are rules - it is <strong>not</strong> irregular at all.</p>

<p>The two different pronunciations of <code>阿</code> actually reflect different usages. The original Old Chinese pronunciation of <em><code>ē</code> is for using the character as a <strong>verb or noun</em></strong>, which is what the character <code>阿</code> originally meant. In contrast, the later pronunciation of <em><code>ā</code> emerged as a <strong>particle</em></strong> with completely different meanings.</p>

<p>Unfortunately most people have became unfamiliar with the older usage, so that the <code>ē</code> form is usually only seen in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengyu">set phrases (成語)</a>.</p>

<hr>

<h2><strong>阿 <code>ē</code></strong></h2>

<ol>
<li><p><em>verb</em>, meaning:</p>

<ul>
<li>to pander to</li>
<li>to (unjustly) side with (someone in a dispute)</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p><em>noun</em> (archaic), meaning:</p>

<ul>
<li>a hill</li>
<li>a (geographical) twist/turn</li>
<li>a building</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>A surname</p></li>
</ol>

<hr>

<h2>阿 <code>ā</code></h2>

<ol>
<li><p><em>prefix</em> for names or familial titles, originally meaningless but can carry connotations of:</p>

<ul>
<li>familiarity</li>
<li>endearment</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p><em>particle</em> (archaic, superseded by 啊) indicating:</p>

<ul>
<li>surprise</li>
<li>doubt</li>
</ul></li>
</ol>

<hr>

<p>As the above shows, the two different pronunciations do not overlap in their usage.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-19T12:19:50.210Z
2014-07-19T13:05:06.130Z
2014-07-19T13:05:06.130Z
Semaphore
<p>阿 sometimes pronounced 'a' sometimes pronounced 'e'.</p>

<p>I've noticed specific instances for both.</p>

<p>Are there any rules as to how to pronounce 阿 in different circumstances/contexts?</p>

<pronunciation>
阿: when is it pronunced 'a' when is it pronunced 'e'?
# 阿: when is it pronunced 'a' when is it pronunced 'e'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-19)

阿 sometimes pronounced 'a' sometimes pronounced 'e'.

I've noticed specific instances for both.

Are there any rules as to how to pronounce 阿 in different circumstances/contexts?

**Tags:** pronunciation


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-19. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

Yes, there are rules - it is **not** irregular at all.

The two different pronunciations of `阿` actually reflect different usages. The original Old Chinese pronunciation of *`ē` is for using the character as a **verb or noun***, which is what the character `阿` originally meant. In contrast, the later pronunciation of *`ā` emerged as a **particle*** with completely different meanings.

Unfortunately most people have became unfamiliar with the older usage, so that the `ē` form is usually only seen in [set phrases (成語)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengyu).

---

## **阿 `ē`**

1. *verb*, meaning:

   * to pander to
   * to (unjustly) side with (someone in a dispute)
2. *noun* (archaic), meaning:

   * a hill
   * a (geographical) twist/turn
   * a building
3. A surname

---

## 阿 `ā`

1. *prefix* for names or familial titles, originally meaningless but can carry connotations of:

   * familiarity
   * endearment
2. *particle* (archaic, superseded by 啊) indicating:

   * surprise
   * doubt

---

As the above shows, the two different pronunciations do not overlap in their usage.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-07-19. Score: 4

'e' is the older pronunciation and is used to reflect the older pronunciation in some particular words (usually more formal words), such as 阿胶 (ē jiāo, some animal gelatin), 阿房宫(ē páng gōng -- notice that 房 is pronounced páng instead of fáng), 阿谀奉承.

'a' is the modern and default pronunciation, used in translation of foreign names (e.g., Algebria - 阿尔及利亚) as well as some colloquial/informal addresses/names to express familiarity (e.g., 阿爸, 阿伯, 阿花)

You may treat 'e' as an irregular pronunciation and memorize irregular words.


---

