Suggestions with "ba"

The particle 吧 (ba) can be used to make suggestions or soften the tone of commands.

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

• 咱们 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.

See also

• Softening speech with "ba"
• Softening the tone of questions with "ne" (advanced article)

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