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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

Used for

[Expressing attitude](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_attitude)

Keywords

[吧](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%90%A7)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-Ba.jpg](Reviewing%20options%20with%20%22ba%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-Ba.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-Ba.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-Ba.jpg)

When 吧 (ba) is used twice in a sentence, it is used to list two options that the speaker is debating. It gives the sentence an indecisive feel, as though the speaker doesn't know which one to choose. This construction often has a negative connotation, since the options usually are not ideal.

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink")

Structure ---------------------------------------------------------

Option 1 + 吧，⋯⋯ ；Option 2 + 吧，⋯⋯

If this structure doesn't seem clear to you, the examples will help. Examples -------------------------------------------------------

- 冬天去 *吧* ，太冷；夏天去 *吧* ，太热。Dōngtiān qù *ba*, tài lěng; xiàtiān qù *ba*, tài rè.If we go in the winter, it's too cold. If we go in the summer, it's too hot. - 早点去 *吧* ，要等；晚点去 *吧* ，会堵车。Zǎo diǎn qù *ba*, yào děng; wǎn diǎn qù *ba*, yòu dǔchē. If we go early, we'll have to wait. If we go later, there will be too much traffic. - 穿得多一点 *吧* ，会热；穿得少一点 *吧* ，会冷。Chuān de duō yīdiǎn *ba*, huì rè; chuān de shǎo yīdiǎn *ba*, huì lěng.If I wear a little more, it will be hot. If I wear a little less, it will be cold. - 去 *吧* ，要给红包；不去 *吧* ，他没面子。Qù *ba*, yào gěi hóngbāo; bù qù *ba*, tā méi miànzi. I need to give a red envelope if I go early. If I don't go, he will lose face. - 不说 *吧* ，他还会做错；说 *吧* ，他肯定不高兴。Bù shuō *ba*, tā hái huì zuò cuò; shuō *ba*, tā kěndìng bù gāoxìng.If I don't tell him, he will still do it wrong next time. If I do tell him, he will get upset. - 回去 *吧* ，机票太贵；不回去 *吧* ，家人肯定会想我。Huíqù *ba*, jīpiào tài guì; bù huíqù *ba*, jiārén kěndìng huì xiǎng wǒ.If I go back, the air ticket is too expensive. If I don't go back, my family will definitely miss me. - 带你去 *吧* ，你总是不听话；不带你去 *吧* ，你一个人肯定无聊。Dài nǐ qù *ba*, nǐ zǒngshì bù tīnghuà; bù dài nǐ qù *ba*, nǐ yīgèrén kěndìng wúliáo.If I take you with me, you will be naughty like always. If I don't take you with me, you will definitely be bored. - 见面 *吧* ，常常吵架；不见面 *吧* ，还是会想他。Jiànmiàn *ba*, chángcháng chǎojià; bù jiànmiàn *ba*, háishì huì xiǎng tā.If we see each other, we fight a lot. If we don't see each other, I miss him anyway. - 不说真话 *吧* ，老婆不高兴；说真话 *吧* ，老婆也不高兴。Bù shuō zhēn huà *ba*, lǎopo bù gāoxìng; shuō zhēn huà *ba*, lǎopo yě bù gāoxìng.If I don't speak the truth, my wife will be upset. If I tell her the truth, my wife will also be upset. - 这个老房子，卖 *吧* ，怕父母不同意；不卖 *吧* ，就没钱买新车。Zhège lǎo fángzi, mài *ba*, pà fùmǔ bù tóngyì; bù mài *ba*, jiù méi qián mǎi xīn chē.If I sell this old house, I'm afraid my parents will disagree. If I don't sell it, I don't have money to buy a new car.

See also ------------------------------------------------------- Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books

[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)

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