吧 ba — …, shall we?; let’s (softening a suggestion)

Meanings

1. 1

   …, shall we?; let’s (softening a suggestion)

   A sentence-final particle that turns a bare statement or command into a suggestion the listener is invited to accept. 我们走 is "we are leaving"; 我们走吧 is "let’s go".

   particle
2. 2

   …, right? (expecting agreement)

   particle

   Here 吧 marks a guess you are fairly sure of. 你是老师吗 asks a real question; 你是老师吧 says you already think so.

Example sentences

• 我们走吧。/我們走吧。Wǒmen (third tone, dipping) zǒu (third tone, dipping) ba. (neutral tone)···

  Let’s go.

• 你是老师吧？/你是老師吧？Nǐ (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) lǎoshī (third tone, dipping) ba? (neutral tone)···

  You’re a teacher, aren’t you?

Common mistakes

• Not quite我们走吗？

  Correct我们走吧。

  吗 asks for information you do not have; 吧 proposes something. Ending a suggestion with 吗 turns "let’s go" into "are we leaving?".

Similar words