なあ (naa)

Meaning & usage

なあ is a sentence ending particle that adds a sighing, emotional tone to a statement of feeling, wish, or wondering aloud. It follows plain form predicates, including verbs, い-adjectives, な-adjectives plus だ, and nouns plus だ, and often appears after expressions like たい, たらいいのに, ればいいのに, and かな. It sounds casual and reflective, often spoken to oneself rather than directed at a listener, with a lingering emotional nuance.

Example sentences 3

1. 鳥とりのように空そらを飛とべたらいいのになあ。

   I wish I could fly like a bird.

2. すごく知りたいなあ。

   I really want to know.

3. 学校が始まるのが待ち遠しいなあ。

   I can't wait for school to start.