Suggestions with "ba"

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The particle 吧 (ba) can be used to make suggestions, to soften a sentence's tone, or to concede a point. Here we'll talk about making suggestions with 吧 (ba).

Structure

Command + 吧

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

Examples

  • 我们 走 (This is a suggestion)Wǒmen zǒu ba .Let's go.
  • 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.
  • 在 这里 吃 饭 (Are you noticing a pattern?)Zài zhèlǐ chīfàn ba .Let's eat here.
  • 喝 啤酒 (This is a most welcome suggestion!)Hē píjiǔ ba .Have some beer.
  • 我们 去 香港 (This is a great suggestion)Wǒmen qù xiānggǎng ba .Let's go to Hong Kong.
  • 老板 ,便宜 一点 (This is more of a request, made to a shopkeeper)Lǎobǎn, piányí yīdiǎn ba .Boss, can you make it cheaper?
  • 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)Xiūxí 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.
  • 你 说 (This is a suggestion)Nǐ shuō ba .You say it.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books