Difference between revisions of "Conceding with "ba""
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{{Stub}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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{{Grammar Box|Conceding with "ba"}}
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[[level::A2| ]][[don't confuse with::嘛| ]][[is similar to::罢| ]][[is used for::politeness| ]][[is used for::expressing dissatisfaction| ]]
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The particle 吧 (ba) can also be used to ''concede'' a point. That is, 吧 (ba) can be used to accept or agree with something that you're not particularly happy about, the way we might use "all right" or "fine then" in English.
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== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
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As well as [[Softening speech with "ba"|softening a sentence]], the particle 吧 can also be used to ''concede''. That is, 吧 can be used to accept something that you're not particularly happy about. 吧 is simply placed on the end of a sentence or statement.
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Similar to [[吧|other uses of 吧]] (ba), this usage is also simply placed on the end of a sentence or statement.
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<div class="jiegou">
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Statement + 吧
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</div>
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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To understand what someone is conceding to, it's best to present this usage as a number of super short dialogs which provide a little context.
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In this first one, B has to accept that his luxury goods shopping dreams have been shattered.
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<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>太 贵 了！<span class="pinyin">Tài guì le! </span><span class="trans">That's too expensive! </span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>好 <em>吧</em>，我们 可以 看看 别的。<span class="pinyin"> Hǎo <em> ba</em>, wǒmen kěyǐ kànkan biéde.</span><span class="trans">All right, we can take a look at something else.</span></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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Now B must accept inconvenient schedule changes.
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<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>下午 我 不 在 家，你 可以 晚上 来 吗？<span class="pinyin">Xiàwǔ wǒ bù zài jiā, nǐ kěyǐ wǎnshang lái ma? </span><span class="trans">This afternoon I won't be home. Can you come by this evening? </span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>行 <em>吧</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xíng <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">All right.</span></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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B is now conceding that going out in this crazy rain doesn't make sense.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>雨 太 大 了，明天 再 去 买 吧。<span class="pinyin"> Yǔ tài dà le, míngtiān zài qù mǎi ba.</span><span class="trans">It's raining heavily. Let's go buy it tomorrow.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>好 <em>吧</em>，但是 明天 一定 要 买到 。<span class="pinyin">Hǎo <em> ba</em>, dànshì míngtiān yídìng yào mǎidào.</span><span class="trans">Fine, but tomorrow we definitely have to buy it.</span></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
  
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* 好 <em>吧</em>。
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Now B is agreeing to let more guys into his secret club.
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* 可以 <em>吧</em>。
 
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* 没关系 <em>吧</em>。
 
  
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<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>可以 带 朋友 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Kěyǐ dài péngyou ma ?</span><span class="trans"> Can I bring friends? </span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>行 <em>吧</em>， 但是 不 能 带 女孩。<span class="pinyin"> Xíng <em> ba</em>, dànshì bù néng dài nǚhái.</span><span class="trans">All right, but you can't bring girls.</span></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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Now B is having a friend cancel plans on him. Not a good day for B!
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<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我 今天 不 太 舒服，你 可以 自己 去 吗？ <span class="pinyin"> Wǒ jīntiān bù tài shūfu, nǐ kěyǐ zìjǐ qù ma?</span><span class="trans">I'm not feeling well today. Can you go by yourself?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>好 <em>吧</em>， 那 你 休息 吧。<span class="pinyin"> Hǎo <em>ba</em>, nà nǐ xiūxi ba.</span><span class="trans">All right, rest well then.</span></li>
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</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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*[[Softening speech with "ba"]]
 
*[[Softening speech with "ba"]]
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*[[Suggestions with ba]]
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*[[Suggestions with "ba"]]
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*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
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*[[Expressing contrariness with "dao"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
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* [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Pre-Intermediate (汉语口语速成提高篇)]] (pp. 52-3)
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{{Source|Short-term Spoken Chinese: Pre-Intermediate (汉语口语速成提高篇)|52-3)
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* [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)]] (98) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00326U9MS/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00326U9MS →buy]
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{{Source|Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)]] (p.98}}
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* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (pp. 55) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075294 →buy]
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{{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|55}}
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 246) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|246}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Basic Grammar|吧|A2|⋯⋯吧|那 好 <em>吧</em>。|grammar point|ASGJIP2E}}
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{{Similar|Softening speech with "ba"}}
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{{Similar|Suggestions with ba}}   
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{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
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{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 08:54, 21 April 2021

The particle 吧 (ba) can also be used to concede a point. That is, 吧 (ba) can be used to accept or agree with something that you're not particularly happy about, the way we might use "all right" or "fine then" in English.

Structure

Similar to other uses of 吧 (ba), this usage is also simply placed on the end of a sentence or statement.

Statement + 吧

Examples

To understand what someone is conceding to, it's best to present this usage as a number of super short dialogs which provide a little context.

In this first one, B has to accept that his luxury goods shopping dreams have been shattered.

  • A:太 贵 了！Tài guì le! That's too expensive!
  • B:好 吧，我们 可以 看看 别的。 Hǎo ba, wǒmen kěyǐ kànkan biéde.All right, we can take a look at something else.

Now B must accept inconvenient schedule changes.

  • A:下午 我 不 在 家，你 可以 晚上 来 吗？Xiàwǔ wǒ bù zài jiā, nǐ kěyǐ wǎnshang lái ma? This afternoon I won't be home. Can you come by this evening?
  • B:行 吧。Xíng ba.All right.

B is now conceding that going out in this crazy rain doesn't make sense.

  • A:雨 太 大 了，明天 再 去 买 吧。 Yǔ tài dà le, míngtiān zài qù mǎi ba.It's raining heavily. Let's go buy it tomorrow.
  • B:好 吧，但是 明天 一定 要 买到 。Hǎo ba, dànshì míngtiān yídìng yào mǎidào.Fine, but tomorrow we definitely have to buy it.

Now B is agreeing to let more guys into his secret club.

  • A:可以 带 朋友 吗？ Kěyǐ dài péngyou ma ? Can I bring friends?
  • B:行 吧， 但是 不 能 带 女孩。 Xíng ba, dànshì bù néng dài nǚhái.All right, but you can't bring girls.

Now B is having a friend cancel plans on him. Not a good day for B!

  • A:我 今天 不 太 舒服，你 可以 自己 去 吗？ Wǒ jīntiān bù tài shūfu, nǐ kěyǐ zìjǐ qù ma?I'm not feeling well today. Can you go by yourself?
  • B:好 吧， 那 你 休息 吧。 Hǎo ba, nà nǐ xiūxi ba.All right, rest well then.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] →buy {{Source|Short-term Spoken Chinese: Pre-Intermediate (汉语口语速成提高篇)|52-3)

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