verb / particle HSK 5
Traditional 罷
to stop · to cease · to dismiss · to finish (particle)
Meaning
罢 primarily means to stop, cease, or finish an activity. It's commonly used as a sentence-final particle (罢了) to soften statements or indicate resignation. As a verb, it appears in words related to stopping work or dismissing someone from a position.
Usage
Most frequently encountered in the particle form 罢了 (bàle), which downplays or dismisses something as 'nothing more than' or 'just/merely.' As a standalone verb, it's somewhat formal or literary. Common in compound words like 罢工 (strike) or 罢免 (to dismiss from office). The particle usage is more colloquial than the verb usage.
Examples
- 01这只不过是个小问题罢了。.This is merely a small problem, that's all.
- 02工人们决定罢工抗议低工资。.The workers decided to go on strike to protest low wages.
Common collocations
- 罢了that's all, nothing more
- 能...就...罢... ...if able to... then let it be
- 作罢to drop the matter, to let it go
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 罷 combines elements suggesting a net (网) and authority, originally conveying the sense of stopping or dismissing someone from service.