Difference between revisions of "Suggestions with "ba""

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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
The particle 吧 (ba) can be used to make suggestions or soften the tone of commands.  
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The particle 吧 (ba) has [[吧|a number of different uses]]. Here we'll talk about the simplest way to use 吧 (ba): making suggestions.  
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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.  
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Note that in Chinese, whenever you have a command with the subject "we," you're basically just saying, "'''let's''' (do something)."  吧 (ba) just makes the suggestion sound more tentative and more polite.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 咱们 走 <em>吧</em>。
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* 我们 走 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zǒu <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's go.</span>
* 快点 吃 <em>吧</em>。
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* 你 说 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ shuō <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">You say it.</span>
* 给 我 两 个 <em>吧</em>。
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* 快 点 吃 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Kuài diǎn chī <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Hurry up and eat.</span>
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* 给 我 两 个 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Gěi wǒ liǎng gè <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Give me two.</span>
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* 喝 水 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Hē shuǐ <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Have some water.</span>
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* 我们 去 香港 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a great suggestion!</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù Xiānggǎng <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's go to Hong Kong.</span>
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* 我们 六 点 去<em>吧</em>?<span class="expl">This is more of a confirmation than a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liù diǎn qù <em>ba</em>?</span><span class="trans">We're going at 6 o'clock (right)?</span>
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* 休息 一下 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Xiūxi yīxià <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Take a break.</span>
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* 我们 结婚 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a also suggestion, believe it or not!</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen jiéhūn <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's get married.</span>
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* 老板 ,便宜 一点 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is more of a request, made to a shopkeeper.</span><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn, piányi yīdiǎn <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Boss, can you make it cheaper?</span>
  
 
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==See also==
 
==See also==
 
*[[Softening speech with "ba"]]
 
*[[Softening speech with "ba"]]
*[[Softening the Tone of Questions with "ne"]] (advanced article)
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*[[Softening the tone of questions with "ne"]] (advanced article)
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*[[Conceding with "ba" ]]
  
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 66) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|101}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 129) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|66}}
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 307-311) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|129}}
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{{Source|Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar|307-311}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 
[[Category:Particles]]
 
[[Category:Particles]]
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
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{{Used for|Requesting}}
 
[[is similar to::Conceding with "ba"| ]]
 
[[is similar to::Conceding with "ba"| ]]
 
[[level::A1| ]]
 
[[level::A1| ]]
{{Basic Grammar|吧|A1|⋯吧|我们 走 <em>吧</em> 。|grammar point|ASGMPZ6D}}
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{{Basic Grammar|吧|A1|Command + 吧|我们 走 <em>吧</em> 。|grammar point|ASGMPZ6D}}
 
{{Similar|Softening speech with "ba"}}  
 
{{Similar|Softening speech with "ba"}}  
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{{Similar|Expressing "otherwise" with "yaobu"}}   
 
{{Similar|Softening the Tone of Questions with "ne"}}
 
{{Similar|Softening the Tone of Questions with "ne"}}
 
{{Similar|Conceding with "ba"}}     
 
{{Similar|Conceding with "ba"}}     
 
{{POS|Particles}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 09:22, 20 April 2021

The particle 吧 (ba) has a number of different uses. Here we'll talk about the simplest way to use 吧 (ba): making suggestions.

Structure

Command + 吧

Note that in Chinese, whenever you have a command with the subject "we," you're basically just saying, "let's (do something)." 吧 (ba) just makes the suggestion sound more tentative and more polite.

Examples

  • 我们 走 This is a suggestion.Wǒmen zǒu ba.Let's go.
  • 你 说 This is a suggestion.Nǐ shuō ba.You say it.
  • 快 点 吃 This is a suggestion.Kuài diǎn chī ba.Hurry up and eat.
  • 给 我 两 个 This is a suggestion.Gěi wǒ liǎng gè ba.Give me two.
  • 喝 水 This is a suggestion.Hē shuǐ ba.Have some water.
  • 我们 去 香港 This is a great suggestion!Wǒmen qù Xiānggǎng ba.Let's go to Hong Kong.
  • 我们 六 点 去This is more of a confirmation than a suggestion.Wǒmen liù diǎn qù ba?We're going at 6 o'clock (right)?
  • 休息 一下 This is a suggestion.Xiūxi yīxià ba.Take a break.
  • 我们 结婚 This is a also suggestion, believe it or not!Wǒmen jiéhūn ba.Let's get married.
  • 老板 ,便宜 一点 This is more of a request, made to a shopkeeper.Lǎobǎn, piányi yīdiǎn ba.Boss, can you make it cheaper?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books