The particle 吧 (ba) can also be used to concede a
point. That is, 吧 (ba) can be used to accept or agree with
something that you're not particularly happy about, the way we
might use "all right" or "fine then" in English.
Structure
Similar to other uses of
吧 (ba), this usage is also simply placed on the end of a
sentence or statement.
Examples
To understand what someone is conceding to, it's best to present
this usage as a number of super short dialogs which provide a
little context.
In this first one, B has to accept that his luxury goods
shopping dreams have been shattered.
- A:太 贵 了！Tài
guì le! That's too
expensive!
- B:好 吧，我们 可以 看看 别的。
Hǎo ba, wǒmen kěyǐ kànkan
biéde.All right, we can take a look at
something else.
Now B must accept inconvenient schedule changes.
- A:下午 我 不 在 家，你 可以 晚上 来
吗？Xiàwǔ wǒ bù zài jiā, nǐ kěyǐ wǎnshang lái
ma? This afternoon I won't be home. Can
you come by this evening?
- B:行 吧。Xíng ba.All
right.
B is now conceding that going out in this crazy rain doesn't
make sense.
- A:雨 太 大 了，明天 再 去 买 吧。 Yǔ tài dà le, míngtiān zài qù mǎi ba.It's raining heavily. Let's go buy it tomorrow.
- B:好 吧，但是 明天 一定 要 买到
。Hǎo ba, dànshì míngtiān yídìng yào
mǎidào.Fine, but tomorrow we definitely
have to buy it.
Now B is agreeing to let more guys into his secret club.
- A:可以 带 朋友 吗？ Kěyǐ dài péngyou ma ? Can I
bring friends?
- B:行 吧， 但是 不 能 带 女孩。
Xíng ba, dànshì bù néng dài
nǚhái.All right, but you can't bring
girls.
Now B is having a friend cancel plans on him. Not a good day for
B!
- A:我 今天 不 太 舒服，你 可以 自己 去 吗？
Wǒ jīntiān bù tài shūfu, nǐ kěyǐ zìjǐ qù
ma?I'm not feeling well today. Can you
go by yourself?
- B:好 吧， 那 你 好好 休息。
Hǎo ba, nà nǐ hǎohǎo
xiūxi.All right, rest well
then.
See also
Sources and further
reading
Books
Category:A2 grammar points