Suggestions with "ba"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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 吧。 (This is a suggestion)Let's go.
- 你 说 吧。(This is a suggestion)You say it.
- 快 点 吃 吧。 (This is a suggestion)Hurry up and eat.
- 给 我 两 个 吧。 (This is a suggestion)Give me two.
- 喝 啤酒 吧。(This is a most welcome suggestion!)Have some beer.
- 我们 去 香港 吧。(This is a great suggestion)Let's go to Hong Kong.
- 我们 六 点 去吧？(This is more of a confirmation than a suggestion)We're going at 6 o'clock (right)?
- 休息 一下 吧。(This is a suggestion)Take a break.
- 我们 结婚 吧。(This is a also suggestion, believe it or not!)Let's get married.
- 老板 ，便宜 一点 吧。(This is more of a request, made to a shopkeeper)Boss, can you make it cheaper?
See also
- Softening speech with "ba"
- Softening the tone of questions with "ne" (advanced article)
- Conceding with "ba"
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 66) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 129) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 307-311) →buy
