4.4: Suggestions with "ba"
- Page ID
- 30604
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
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 吧。 This is a suggestion.Wǒmen zǒu ba.Let's go.
- 你 说 吧。This is a suggestion.Nǐ shuō ba.You say it.
- 快 点 吃 吧。 This is a suggestion.Kuài diǎn chī ba.Hurry up and eat.
- 给 我 两 个 吧。 This is a suggestion.Gěi wǒ liǎng gè ba.Give me two.
- 喝 水 吧。This is a suggestion.Hē shuǐ ba.Have some water.
- 我们 去 香港 吧。This is a great suggestion!Wǒmen qù Xiānggǎng ba.Let's go to Hong Kong.
- 我们 六 点 去吧?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 吧。This is a suggestion.Xiūxi yīxià ba.Take a break.
- 我们 结婚 吧。This is a also suggestion, believe it or not!Wǒmen jiéhūn ba.Let's get married.
- 老板 ,便宜 一点 吧。This is more of a request, made to a shopkeeper.Lǎobǎn, piányi yīdiǎn ba.Boss, can you make it cheaper?