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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
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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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How Well Do You Know 罢?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 罢 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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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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.
