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March 24, 2026
罢(罷)bà(ba4)
The character 罢 (bà) primarily means 'to stop' or 'to cease.' It is often used in contexts where an action is being halted or an activity is being concluded. Additionally, it can imply dismissing someone from a position or suspending an event, making it versatile in both formal and informal situations.
Strokes10Radical罒Frequency#10325DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The concept of striking (罢工) has historical significance in China, particularly during labor movements. Understanding this word provides insight into social activism and workers' rights within Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'bat' (sounds like 'bà') that stops flying when it reaches a wall. The 'bat' represents the action being halted, connecting the sound and meaning of the character. Visualize the bat hanging quietly, symbolizing cessation.
Meanings of 罢
bà(ba4)
primary
1to stop
2to cease
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 罢
罢Simplified
罷Traditional
10Strokes
罒Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10325Frequency Rank
Podcast: 罢
Podcast: 罢
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AI Study Notes for 罢
Quick Contrast
罢 (bà) vs 停 (tíng) — use 罢 for formal cessation or conclusion, while 停 is more about stopping an ongoing action.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 罢 with similar-sounding words; its usage is more formal and often appears in written contexts. Common collocations include 罢工 (bàgōng, to strike) and 罢免 (bàmiǎn, to dismiss from office). Remember that in conversation, using 罢 can make your tone sound more formal.
HSK Study Tips
Although 罢 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for understanding verbs of cessation. Focus on related terms like 停止 (tíngzhǐ, to stop) and 结束 (jiéshù, to finish) to enrich your vocabulary around actions being halted.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 罢 in informal situations where simpler terms like 停 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我罢吃' (Wǒ bà chī) instead of '我停吃' (Wǒ tíng chī) for 'I stop eating.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 罢
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Simplified form of 罷. Depicts stopping something from being able (能) to continue with a net (网).
1The giveawayStuck in a net 罒, unable to leave 去
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 罢? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 罢?
Decomposition of 罢
IDS Structure⿱罒去
罢Full Character
=
罒wang3
top
去qu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 罢?
How to say to stop in Chinese
“to stop” in Chinese is罢bà
The character 罢 (bà) primarily means 'to stop' or 'to cease.' It is often used in contexts where an action is being halted or an activity is being concluded. Additionally, it can imply dismissing someone from a position or suspending an event, making it versatile in both formal and informal situations.
When to use 罢
Be careful not to confuse 罢 with similar-sounding words; its usage is more formal and often appears in written contexts. Common collocations include 罢工 (bàgōng, to strike) and 罢免 (bàmiǎn, to dismiss from office). Remember that in conversation, using 罢 can make your tone sound more formal.
罢 or something close to it
罢 (bà) vs 停 (tíng) — use 罢 for formal cessation or conclusion, while 停 is more about stopping an ongoing action.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 罢 in informal situations where simpler terms like 停 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我罢吃' (Wǒ bà chī) instead of '我停吃' (Wǒ tíng chī) for 'I stop eating.'
Write 罢
罢
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Practice writing 罢 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 罢
罢 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
