Suggestions with "ba" "吧"
The particle 吧 (ba) has a number of different uses. Here we'll talk about the simplest way to use 吧 (ba): making suggestions.
Contents
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 啤酒 吧 。
This is a most welcome suggestion!
Hē píjiǔ ba .
Have some beer.
- 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?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 66)
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 129)
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 307-311)