Reviewing options with "ba"
When 吧 (ba) is used twice in a sentence, it is used to list two options that the speaker is debating. It gives the sentence an indecisive feel, as though the speaker doesn't know which one to choose. This construction often has a negative connotation, since the options usually are not ideal.
Structure
Option 1 + 吧 ，⋯⋯ ；Option 2 + 吧 ，⋯⋯
If this structure doesn't seem clear to you, the examples will help.
Examples
- 冬天 去 吧 ，太 冷 ；夏天 去 吧 ，太 热 。If we go in the winter, it's too cold. If we go in the summer, it's too hot.
- 早 点 去 吧 ，要 等 ；晚 点 去 吧 ，会 堵车 。 If we go early, we'll have to wait. If we go later, there will be too much traffic.
- 穿 得 多 一点 吧 ，会 热 ；穿 得 少 一点 吧 ，会 冷 。If I wear a little more, it will be hot. If I wear a little less, it will be cold.
- 去 吧 ，要 给 红包 ；不 去 吧 ，他 没 面子 。 I need to give a red envelope if I go early. If I don't go, he will lose face.
- 不 说 吧 ，他 还 会 做 错 ；说 吧 ，他 肯定 不 高兴 。If I don't tell him, he will still do it wrong next time. If I do tell him, he will get upset.
- 回去 吧 ，机票 太 贵 ；不 回去 吧 ，家人 肯定 会 想 我 。If I go back, the air ticket is too expensive. If I don't go back, my family will definitely miss me.
- 带 你 去 吧 ，你 总是 不 听话 ；不 带 你 去 吧 ，你 一个人 肯定 无聊 。If I take you with me, you will be naughty like always. If I don't take you with me, you will definitely be bored.
- 见面 吧 ，常常 吵架 ；不 见面 吧 ，还是 会 想 他 。If we see each other, we fight a lot. If we don't see each other, I miss him anyway.
- 不 说 真 话 吧 ，老婆 不 高兴 ；说 真 话 吧 ，老婆 也 不 高兴 。If I don't speak the truth, my wife will be upset. If I tell her the truth, my wife will also be upset.
- 这个 老房子 ，卖 吧 ，怕 父母 不 同意 ；不 卖 吧 ，就 没 钱 买 新 车 。If I sell this old house, I'm afraid my parents will disagree. If I don't sell it, I don't have money to buy a new car.
