Difference between revisions of "Suggestions with "ba""
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| − | The particle 吧 (ba) can be used to make suggestions | + | |
| + | The particle 吧 (ba) can be used to make suggestions, to [[Softening speech with "ba"|soften a sentence's tone]], or even when [[Conceding with "ba" |conceding a point]]. Here we'll talk about making suggestions with "ba". | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Note that when you have a command with the subject "we," you're basically just saying, "let's (do something)." 吧 makes the suggestion sound more tentative and more polite. | + | Note that when you have a command with the subject "we," you're basically just saying, "'''let's''' (do something)." 吧 makes the suggestion sound more tentative and more polite. |
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我们 走 <em>吧</em>。 <span class=" | + | * 我们 走 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">(This is a suggestion)</span><span class="trans">Let's go.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 快 点 吃 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">(This is a suggestion)</span><span class="trans">Hurry up and eat.</span> |
| − | * 给 我 两 个 <em>吧</em>。 <span class=" | + | * 给 我 两 个 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">(This is a suggestion)</span><span class="trans">Give me two.</span> |
| − | * 在 这里 吃 饭<em>吧</em>。<span class="trans"> | + | * 在 这里 吃 饭<em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">(Are you noticing a pattern?)</span><span class="trans">Let's eat here.</span> |
| − | * 喝 啤酒<em>吧</em>。<span class="trans"> | + | * 喝 啤酒<em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">(This is a most welcome suggestion!)</span><span class="trans">Have some beer.</span> |
| − | * 我们 去 香港 <em>吧</em>。<span class="trans"> | + | * 我们 去 香港 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">(This is a great suggestion)</span><span class="trans">Let's go to Hong Kong.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 老板 ，便宜 一点 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">(This is more of a request, made to a shopkeeper)</span><span class="trans">Boss, can you make it cheaper?</span> |
| − | * 我们 六 点 去<em>吧</em>？<span class="trans"> | + | * 我们 六 点 去<em>吧</em>？<span class="expl">(This is more of a confirmation than a suggestion)</span><span class="trans">We're going at 6, right?</span> |
| − | * 休息 一下<em>吧</em>。<span class="trans"> | + | * 休息 一下 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">(This is a suggestion)</span><span class="trans">Have a rest.</span> |
| − | * 我们 结婚 <em>吧</em>。<span class="trans"> | + | * 我们 结婚 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">(This is a also suggestion, believe it or not!)</span><span class="trans">Let's get married.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 说 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">(This is a suggestion, or sort of an urging)</span><span class="trans">Say it.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 10:12, 16 September 2013
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Keywords
The particle 吧 (ba) can be used to make suggestions, to soften a sentence's tone, or even when conceding a point. Here we'll talk about making suggestions with "ba".
Structure
Command + 吧
Note that when you have a command with the subject "we," you're basically just saying, "let's (do something)." 吧 makes the suggestion sound more tentative and more polite.
Examples
- 我们 走 吧。 (This is a suggestion)Let's go.
- 快 点 吃 吧。 (This is a suggestion)Hurry up and eat.
- 给 我 两 个 吧。 (This is a suggestion)Give me two.
- 在 这里 吃 饭吧。(Are you noticing a pattern?)Let's eat here.
- 喝 啤酒吧。(This is a most welcome suggestion!)Have some beer.
- 我们 去 香港 吧。(This is a great suggestion)Let's go to Hong Kong.
- 老板 ，便宜 一点 吧。(This is more of a request, made to a shopkeeper)Boss, can you make it cheaper?
- 我们 六 点 去吧？(This is more of a confirmation than a suggestion)We're going at 6, right?
- 休息 一下 吧。(This is a suggestion)Have a rest.
- 我们 结婚 吧。(This is a also suggestion, believe it or not!)Let's get married.
- 说 吧。(This is a suggestion, or sort of an urging)Say it.
See also
- Softening speech with "ba"
- Softening the tone of questions with "ne" (advanced article)
- Conceding with "ba"
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 66) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 129) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 307-311) →buy
