Conceding with "ba"

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 +

Examples

  • A: 太 贵 了!Tài guì le !That's too expensive.
  • B:, 我 再 看看 别的。 Hǎo ba, wǒ zài kànkan biéde.All right, I'll take a look at something else.
  • A: 我 今晚 有事,可以 早 点 走 吗?
  • B:,不过 别 让 老板 知道。 Xíng ba..
  • A: 雨 那么 大,明天 再 去 买 吧。 Yǔ nàme dà, míngtiān zài qù mǎi ba.It's raining so heavily. Let's go buy it tomorrow.
  • B:, 明天 一定 要 买 到。Hǎo ba, míngtiān yídìng yào mǎi dào.Fine, we definitely have to buy it tomorrow.
  • A: 可以 多 带 几个 朋友 吗? Kěyǐ duō dài jǐgè péngyǒu ma ? Can I bring a few more friends?
  • B:, 不过 不能 带 女孩。 Xíng ba, búguò bùnéng dài nǚhái ..All right, but you can't bring girls.
  • 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. You think yo can go by yourself?
  • B:, 那 你 好好 休息。 Hǎo ba, nà nǐ hǎohǎo xiūxi..All right, you have some good rest then.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books