How do you pronounce 吧?

吧 is pronounced "bā" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 吧?

吧 is an HSK 1 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 2 on the old exam, HSK 1 on the new one.

What words contain the character 吧?

Common words with 吧 include 网吧 (Internet café), 吧主 (message board moderator or administrator), 吧台 (counter of a bar (pub)), 吧唧 ((onom.) squishing sound), 吧唧 (to smack one's lips).

How do you write 吧?

You can practice writing 吧 using our stroke order tool.

吧 (bā), bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc)

Q: What does 吧 mean in Chinese?

吧 (bā) means "bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc); to puff (on a pipe etc); (onom.) bang; abbr. for 貼吧|贴吧[tie1 ba1]" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 1.

吧

bā

bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc); to puff (on a pipe etc); (onom.) bang; abbr. for 貼吧|贴吧[tie1 ba1]

HSK 1 Was HSK 2verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 口 (no. 30)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc)
to puff (on a pipe etc)
(onom.) bang
abbr. for 貼吧|贴吧[tie1 ba1]

Example Sentences

我们走吧。

Wǒmen zǒu ba

Let's go

Words Containing 吧

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
网吧	wǎng bā	Internet café
吧主	bā zhǔ	message board moderator or administrator
吧台	bā tái	counter of a bar (pub)
吧唧	bā jī	(onom.) squishing sound
吧唧	bā ji	to smack one's lips

Related Words

窗口(chuāng kǒu)· window

→

孔道(kǒng dào)· opening providing access

→

吧嗒(bā da)· (onom.) patter, splatter, click

→

乓(pāng)· (onom.) bang

→

Grammar Notes

Double 不 for EmphasisHSK 2

不 A 不 B OR 不...不 + Verb

Suggestion with 吧HSK 2

Statement/Suggestion + 吧

就 and 才 (Then/Only then)HSK 2

Subject + (Time/Condition) + 就/才 + Verb

Expressing Change (了 sentence-final)HSK 3

Statement + 了 (at end of sentence)

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 1
HSK 2.0: HSK 2
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

吧: HSK 2 on the old exam, HSK 1 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 1 exam

Studying for HSK 1? Keep 吧 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 1 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.