Lessons 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24, 27, 29: Suggestions, negotiation, and advice

How to make suggestions, ask for opinions, agree, and give advice with 好吗, 吧, 咱们, 行, 没问题, 别……了.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 16 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 17 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 18 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 21 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 22 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 24 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 27 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 29

晚上咱们去看电影，好吗？

Wǎnshang zánmen qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo ma?

Let's go see a movie tonight, okay?

Explanation

After a statement, use "……好吗？" to ask, expressing a suggestion to seek the other person's opinion. It carries a sense of negotiation or request.

咱们 includes both the speaker and the listener. 我们 has two uses: 1. includes both the speaker and the listener; 2. includes only the speaker.

The modal particle 吧 at the end of a sentence expresses negotiation, suggestion, request, or agreement. To express agreement you can say 行; 没问题 is a reply that accepts another person's request or suggestion.

们 is added after a pronoun or a noun referring to people to express the plural (你们, 我们, 他们, 咱们, 老师们, 同学们). When a noun is preceded by a word expressing quantity or a modifier expressing plurality, 们 cannot be added after it.

"别……了" is used in spoken language to express comfort or advice.

Structure

1
Câu kể，好吗？
Making a suggestion to seek the other person's opinion; carries a sense of negotiation or request.
- 晚上咱们去看电影，好吗？
  Wǎnshang zánmen qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo ma?
  Let's go see a movie tonight, okay?
- 你跟我一起去，好吗？
  Nǐ gēn wǒ yìqǐ qù, hǎo ma?
  Will you go with me, okay?
- 您再说一遍，好吗？
  Nín zài shuō yí biàn, hǎo ma?
  Could you say it once more, please, teacher?
- 你做完作业我们一起去吃饭，好吗？
  Nǐ zuòwán zuòyè wǒmen yìqǐ qù chīfàn, hǎo ma?
  After you finish your homework, let's go eat together, okay?
2
Câu吧
At the end of a sentence it expresses negotiation, suggestion, request, or agreement.
- A：咱们一起去吧。 B：好吧。
  A: Zánmen yìqǐ qù ba. B: Hǎo ba.
  A: Let's go together. B: Sure.
- A：咱们走吧。 B：走吧。
  A: Zánmen zǒu ba. B: Zǒu ba.
  A: Let's go. B: Let's go.
- 顺便替我买几张邮票吧。
  Shùnbiàn tì wǒ mǎi jǐ zhāng yóupiào ba.
  While you're at it, buy me a few stamps, okay?
- 饭好了。我们吃饭吧。
  Fàn hǎo le. Wǒmen chīfàn ba.
  The meal is ready. Let's eat.
- 请你明天来我的宿舍吧。
  Qǐng nǐ míngtiān lái wǒ de sùshè ba.
  Please come to my dorm tomorrow, okay?
- 我们在这儿等她一会儿吧。
  Wǒmen zài zhèr děng tā yíhuìr ba.
  Let's wait for her here for a while.
3
咱们 = người nói + người nghe; 我们 (gồm hoặc không gồm người nghe)
咱们 includes both the speaker and the listener; 我们 may or may not include the listener.
- 晚上咱们（我们）一起去吧。
  Wǎnshang zánmen (wǒmen) yìqǐ qù ba.
  Let's go together in the evening.
- 你们是留学生，我们是中国学生，咱们是朋友。
  Nǐmen shì liúxuéshēng, wǒmen shì Zhōngguó xuésheng, zánmen shì péngyou.
  You are international students, we are Chinese students, and we are all friends.
4
Đại từ / danh từ chỉ người们
Expresses the plural. If a noun is preceded by a word of quantity or 很多, 们 is not added.
- 你们
  nǐmen
  you (plural)
- 他们
  tāmen
  they
- 老师们
  lǎoshīmen
  teachers
- 同学们
  tóngxuémen
  students
5
A：…… B：行。 / 没问题。
行 expresses agreement; 没问题 is a reply that accepts another person's suggestion or request.
- A：坐车去吧。 B：行。
  A: Zuò chē qù ba. B: Xíng.
  A: Let's go by car. B: Okay.
- A：帮我买一本杂志。 B：行（好）。
  A: Bāng wǒ mǎi yì běn zázhì. B: Xíng (hǎo).
  A: Buy me a magazine. B: Okay.
6
别động từ / hình dung từ了
Used in spoken language to express comfort or advice.
- 别哭了。
  Bié kū le.
  Don't cry anymore.
- 别难过了，我们一起去跳跳舞吧。
  Bié nánguò le, wǒmen yìqǐ qù tiàotiaowǔ ba.
  Don't be sad anymore; let's go dancing together.
- 上课了，请大家别说话了。
  Shàngkè le, qǐng dàjiā bié shuōhuà le.
  Class has started; everyone, please stop talking.
- 他已经睡了。别叫他了。
  Tā yǐjīng shuì le. Bié jiào tā le.
  He's asleep. Don't call him anymore.

Usage notes

Don't say: *三个留学生们, *我有很多朋友们 (when there is already a quantity word or 很多, don't add 们).

Common mistakes

~~我们班有十八个留学生们~~
我们班有十八个留学生
with a quantity word, drop 们

Practice

23 questions in 2 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

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