Suggestions with "ba"

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.
• 你 说 一下 吧。(This is a suggestion)You 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