Difference between revisions of "Suggestions with "ba""

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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.  
 
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 ===
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== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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.
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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 ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 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>
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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>
* 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>
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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>
* 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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* 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>
* 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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* 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>
* 喝 啤酒 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a most welcome suggestion!</span><span class="pinyin">Hē píjiǔ <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Have some beer.</span>
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* 喝 <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>
* 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 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>
* 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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* 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>
* 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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* 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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
* 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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* 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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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 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)]] (p. 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}}

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