5842
On occasion, I will hear ま being used in a way that seems to suggest the
speaker is responding to something indignantly. Something like, " **Well!** If
_that's_ how you're going to act..." Are there any good examples of how
intonation can change the perceived meaning of ま (when used in isolation)?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-26T08:14:49.953
5299
2012-06-13T02:39:15.837
question
interjections intonation
Can ま be used as an interjection to connote an indignant tone?
There is no word ま that matches your description. The interjection you hear is
probably まあ or まっ. It expresses a surprise rather than indignant tone.

> まあ/まっ、何ということでしょう。古びた馬小屋が、匠の手で見事なうさぎ小屋に生まれ変わりました。

There is also まあ/まっ which is a filler (and sometimes compensates a potentially
bad situation), something like the English "well".

> まあ/まっ、そういうわけですから、気になさらないで下さい。
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-13T00:00:01.947
5842
2012-06-13T02:39:15.837
2012-06-13T02:39:15.837
5299
answer