Softening speech with "ba"

The particle 吧 (ba) can be used to soften the feel of a sentence. This could be to make it more polite, gentler and less forceful, or to turn a command into a suggestion.

Structure

Statement + 吧

Examples

  • 这样 不 太 好 Zhèyàng bù tài hǎo ba. This style isn't that great.
  • 算了 Suàn le ba. Just forget it.
  • 应该 是 Yīnggāi shì ba. It should be. (referring to some context)
  • 太少了 Tài shǎo le ba. Too little.
  • 再 等 等 Zài děng děng ba. Wait a little longer.
  • 太 晚 了 ,不要 走 了 Tài wǎn le, bù yào zǒu le ba. It's too late now, don't leave.
  • 你们 早 点 来 Nǐmen zǎo diǎn lái ba. Come a little earlier.
  • 快 点 , 要 迟到 了 。 Kuài diǎn ba, yào chídào le. Hurry, we're going to be late.
  • 太 贵 了 , 我 不 买 了 。 Tài guì le ba, wǒ bù mǎi le. Too expensive! I'm not buying it.
  • 那 个 地方 太 远 了 ,我 不 想 去。 Nà ge dìfang tài yuǎn le ba,wǒ bù xiǎng qù. That place is too far away.I don't want to go.

Note that to make suggestions for a group of people including oneself, 咱们 (zánmen) is often used with 吧 (ba).

See also

Sources and further reading

Books