Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
吧. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
吧, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
吧 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
吧 you have here. The definition of the word
吧 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
吧, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Translingual
Stroke order
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Han character
吧 (Kangxi radical 30, 口+4, 7 strokes, cangjie input 口日山 (RAU), four-corner 67017, composition ⿰口巴)
References
- Kangxi Dictionary: page 178, character 4
- Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 3341
- Dae Jaweon: page 395, character 12
- Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 596, character 6
- Unihan data for U+5427
Chinese
Glyph origin
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Old Chinese
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巴
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*praː
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芭
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*praː
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笆
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*praː, *braːʔ
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豝
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*praː
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鈀
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*praː, *pʰraː
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吧
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*praː, *pʰraː
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蚆
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*praː, *pʰraː
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疤
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*praː
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把
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*praːʔ
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爸
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*praːs, *baʔ
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弝
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*praːs
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靶
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*praːs
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葩
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*pʰraː
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舥
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*pʰraː
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妑
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*pʰraː
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帊
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*pʰraːs
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琶
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*braː
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爬
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*braː
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杷
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*braː, *braːs, *braːs
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跁
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*braːʔ, *braːs
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耙
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*braːs
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Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声 (xíngshēng)): semantic 口 (kǒu) + phonetic 巴 (OC *praː).
Etymology 1
From 罷/罢 (bà) and 夫 (OC *ba, “is it not?”), itself a contraction of 不乎.
Pronunciation
Definitions
吧 (chiefly Mandarin)
- Emphatic final particle; used at the end of a sentence to
- indicate a suggested action: why don't you ...; let us ...
你有時間再做吧。 [MSC, trad.]
你有时间再做吧。 [MSC, simp.]- Nǐ yǒu shíjiān zài zuò ba.
- Do it when you have time.
- 大家去工作吧。 ― Dàjiā qù gōngzuò ba. ― Get to work, everybody.
- 走吧! ― Zǒu ba! ― Let's go!
- indicate a speculation.
- 門還沒鎖吧。/门还没锁吧。 ― Mén hái méi suǒ ba. ― The door has not been locked, I guess.
- Used at the end of a sentence used to concede a point.
- 好吧! ― Hǎo ba! ― Alright!
- 算了吧。 ― Suànle ba. ― Whatever.
- Used at the end of a sentence used to indicate disapproving incredulousness.
- 不是吧! ― Bù shì ba! ― No way!
- Used after the topic for emphasis.
他這人吧,脾氣不太好。 [MSC, trad.]
他这人吧,脾气不太好。 [MSC, simp.]- Tā zhè rén ba, píqì bù tài hǎo.
- He is not that good-tempered a person.
Usage notes
- Adoption into Cantonese has been increasing, especially in Mainland China.
Synonyms
- (imperative): (Hokkien) 好 (hó), 乎 (hohⁿ / hôⁿ / hōⁿ / hoⁿ)
Dialectal synonyms of
吧 (“(sentence-final particle used with a command or suggestion)”)
- (speculation): (Hokkien, Teochew) 閣/阁 (koh), 唷 (ió / ó), 好 (hó), 乎 (hohⁿ / hôⁿ / hōⁿ / hoⁿ)
Dialectal synonyms of
吧 (“(sentence-final particle indicating speculation)”)
- (incredulousness): (Cantonese) 啊嘛 (aa6 maa5), (Hokkien, Teochew) 啦 (--la / --lah), 啊 (--a / --ah)
Etymology 2
Onomatopoeic.
Pronunciation 1
Definitions
吧
- (onomatopoeia) sound of crackling; crack
Pronunciation 2
Definitions
吧
- (onomatopoeia) pow!; smack!
Etymology 3
Pronunciation
Definitions
吧
- (dialectal) to smoke (a cigarette)
Etymology 4
Borrowed from English bar.
Pronunciation
Definitions
吧
- bar
- 酒吧 ― jiǔbā ― bar; pub
- 貼吧/贴吧 ― tiēbā ― internet board (lit. posting bar)
- 玩具吧 ― wánjù bā ― toy shop
- Short for 貼吧/贴吧 (Tiēbā, “internet board”).
- Used in transcription.
- 迪吧 ― díbā ― diva
Compounds
Etymology 5
Pronunciation 1
Zhengzhang system (2003)
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Character
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吧
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Reading #
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1/2
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No.
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102
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Phonetic component
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巴
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Rime group
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魚
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Rime subdivision
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0
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Corresponding MC rime
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巴
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Old Chinese
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/*praː/
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Definitions
吧
- Only used in 吧呀.
Pronunciation 2
Zhengzhang system (2003)
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Character
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吧
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Reading #
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2/2
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No.
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113
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Phonetic component
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巴
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Rime group
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魚
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Rime subdivision
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0
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Corresponding MC rime
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葩
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Old Chinese
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/*pʰraː/
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Definitions
吧
- Only used in 吧呀.
Japanese
Kanji
吧
(Hyōgai kanji)
- This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text
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.
Readings
Korean
Hanja
吧 (eum 파 (pa))
- This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text
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.
Vietnamese
Han character
吧: Hán Việt readings: ba
吧: Nôm readings: ba, bơ, và, vài
Conjunction
吧 • (và)
- Nôm form of và (“and, with, as well as”).