(bà le) - that is all, nothing more in Mandarin
bàleTraditional: 罷了
Translation
that is all, nothing more
Word origin
From 罢 (bà, to stop, to have done with) plus the particle 了 (le), so literally and there it ends, which hardened into a sentence-final dismissal.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 罢 (bà, to cease) + 了 (le, particle)
Stroke order
罢
了
Examples
。
I was only joking, that is all.
。
He is nothing more than a child.
。
This is just a small matter and nothing more.
。
I was only saying it in passing.
，。
She simply did not want to go, there is no other reason.
罢了 (bà le) closes a sentence and shrinks whatever came before it. It is the Chinese equivalent of tacking on that is all, nothing more, or no big deal.
It almost never works alone. The clause needs a downplaying word earlier on for 罢了 to answer: 只是...罢了, 不过是...罢了, 无非是...罢了. Drop the 只是 and the sentence sounds unfinished.
Two traps. First, 罢了 is written and slightly wry, so in casual speech 而已 or a plain 而已-free 只是 usually does the job. Second, do not read the 了 as an ordinary aspect particle: 罢了 is one unit, and 他走了 has nothing to do with it.
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罢了: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "罢了" (that is all, nothing more): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 46.