{{Grammar Box}} 

The particle 吧 (ba) has [[吧|a number of different uses]]. Here we'll talk about the simplest way to use 吧 (ba): making suggestions. 

== Structure ==

<div class="jiegou">

Command + 吧

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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 ==

<div class="liju">

* 我们 走 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zǒu <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's go.</span>
* 你 说 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ shuō <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">You say it.</span>
* 快 点 吃 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Kuài diǎn chī <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Hurry up and eat.</span>
* 给 我 两 个 <em>吧</em>。 <span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Gěi wǒ liǎng gè <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Give me two.</span>
* 喝 水 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Hē shuǐ <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Have some water.</span>
* 我们 去 香港 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a great suggestion!</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù Xiānggǎng <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's go to Hong Kong.</span>
* 我们 六 点 去<em>吧</em>？<span class="expl">This is more of a confirmation than a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liù diǎn qù <em>ba</em>?</span><span class="trans">We're going at 6 o'clock (right)?</span>
* 休息 一下 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a suggestion.</span><span class="pinyin">Xiūxi yīxià <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Take a break.</span>
* 我们 结婚 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is a also suggestion, believe it or not!</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen jiéhūn <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's get married.</span>
* 老板 ，便宜 一点 <em>吧</em>。<span class="expl">This is more of a request, made to a shopkeeper.</span><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn, piányi yīdiǎn <em>ba</em>.</span><span class="trans">Boss, can you make it cheaper?</span>

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==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) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 129) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 307-311) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy] 

[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Particles]]
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Used for|Requesting}}
[[is similar to::Conceding with "ba"| ]]
[[level::A1| ]]
{{Basic Grammar|吧|A1|Command + 吧|我们 走 <em>吧</em> 。|grammar point|ASGMPZ6D}}
{{Similar|Softening speech with "ba"}} 
{{Similar|Expressing "otherwise" with "yaobu"}}    
{{Similar|Softening the Tone of Questions with "ne"}}
{{Similar|Conceding with "ba"}}    
{{POS|Particles}}