Chinese Language Learning Program Lesson 75 – 吧 (bā) and 吗 (mā) in Chinese

Chinese Language Learning Program

Lesson 75 – 吧 (bā) and 吗 (mā) in Chinese

Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese Language Learning Program. Last time we talked about at a hotel in Chinese. Today, we will talke about some Chinese grammar.

吧 (bā) and 吗 (mā) are two of the most common sentence particles in Chinese grammar. They are usually used at the end of a sentence and indicate different meanings.

1.“吗” is used at the end of a sentence to make this sentence a question sentence whose answer usually is “yes” or “no.”

For example:

nǐ men shōu xìn yòng kǎ ma?

你  们      收    信    用    卡  吗? (Do you take credit cards?)

2. “吧” can be used at the end of a sentence in many context.

1)To indicate a suggestion, and a command.

For example:

jìn wū li ba.

进  屋 里吧。(Go into the house.)

2)To indicate an agreement or an acknowledgment.

For example：

hǎo ba! wǒ men liù diǎn zhōng jiàn.

 好  吧！我    们   六   点       钟      见。

(Alright! We will meet at six.)

3) To make the sentence a question sentence.

For example:

nǐ gōng zuò zuò wán le ba?

你   工     作    做    完  了 吧？

(Have you finished your work?)

4)To indicate uncertainty.

For example:

zhè zì lái shuǐ hē le bù huì shēng bìng ba?

 这  自 来   水   喝 了 不  会      生      病    吧？

(It is safe to drink this tap water, right?)

Today’s idiom is:

zuì wēng zhī yì bú zài jiǔ

 醉    翁     之 意 不  在  酒

(Literally-- The intention of the drunkard lies not on the wine, but on other purposes. Or Many kiss the baby for the nurse's sake.)

Ok, that is all for today.

xiè  xiè!

 谢   谢 ! (Thanks!)

xià  cì  jiàn 

 下  次  见!  (See you next time!)