Learn the Basics of Mandarin Chinese: The Use of 'ba'

Learn the basics of Mandarin Chinese: 把【bǎ】as measure word, is used for small objects that can be held, relatively long and flat objects, such as chair, umbrella, toothbrush, knife, hammer.

Learn the basics of Mandarin Chinese: the 把【bǎ】construction is often used with 在【zài=at】，给【gěi=to, for】 ，到【dào=to】in imperatives for something changes/is done with the things (what did you do with the things).

把【bǎ】as measure word, is used for small objects that can be held, relatively long and flat objects, such as chair, umbrella, toothbrush, knife, hammer.

Example 1:

I have two toothbrushes.

我【wǒ=I】有【yǒu=have】两【liǎng=two】把【bǎ= a measure word for toothbrushes】牙刷【yáshuā=toothbrush】。

我 有 两 把 牙刷。

Example 2:

That chair is pretty good.

那【nà=that】把【bǎ= a measure word for chairs】椅子【yǐzi=chair】很【hěn=very】不错【bùcuò=pretty good】。

那 把 椅子 很 不错。

Example 3:

There are about twenty hammers.

大概【dàgài= approximate】有【yǒu=there is】20【èrshí=twenty】把【bǎ=a measure word for hammers】锤子【chuízi=hammer】。

大概 有20 把 锤子。

Example 4:

An umbrella

一【yī=an】把【bǎ= a measure word for umbrellas】雨伞【ǔsǎn=umbrella】。

一 把 雨伞。

The把【bǎ】 construction is often used in imperatives when something changes or is done with the things (what did you do with the things). Here 把【bǎ】can't be translated to English.

a. Grammar form:

(Subject) + 把【bǎ】+ Object + Verb

Example 1:

Unfreeze the chicken wings first.

先【xiān=at first】把【bǎ】鸡翅【jīchì=chicken wings】解冻【jiědòng=unfreeze】。

先 把 鸡翅 解冻。

You can't say by omitting把【bǎ】," 先【xiān=at first】鸡翅【jīchì=chicken wings】解冻【jiědòng=unfreeze】"。

Example 2:

You wash up the dishes.

你【nǐ=you】把【bǎ】碗【wǎn=dishes, bowl】洗掉【xǐdiào=wash up】。

你 把 碗 洗掉。

b. Learn the Basics of Mandarin Chinese: The 把【bǎ】construction is often used with 在【zài=at】.

Grammar form:

(Subject) + 把【bǎ】+ Object + Verb + 在【zài=at】+ other

Example 1:

I think that put the money in stock market is very risk.

我【wǒ=I】觉得【juéde=think】把【bǎ】钱【qián=money】放【fàng=put】在【zài=at】股市【gǔshì=stock market】是【shì=is】非常【fēicháng=very, extremely】冒险【màoxiǎn= take a risk】的【de】。

我 觉得 把 钱 放 在 股市 是 非常 冒险 的。

Example 2:

Tourism and feeling are combined together.

把【bǎ】旅游【lǚyóu=tourism】和【hé=and】情感【qínggǎn= feeling】结合【jiéhé=combine】在【zài=at】一起【yīqǐ= together】。

把 旅游 和 情感 结合 在 一起。

c. Learn the Basics of Mandarin Chinese: The 把【bǎ】construction is often used with 给【gěi=to, for, give】 when someone wants to express the change of hands of object.

Grammar form:

(Subject) + 把【bǎ】+ Object + Verb + 给【gěi=to, for, give】 + Other

Example 1:

You send the number via SMS to me.

你【nǐ=you】把【ba】号码【hàomǎ=number】发【fā=send out】短信【duǎnxìn= SMS message】给【gěi=to, give】我【wǒ=I】。

你 把 号码 发 短信 给 我。

Example 2:

You send me your curriculum vitae to me.

你【nǐ=you】把【bǎ】简历【jiǎnlì=curriculum vitae】发【fā=send out】给【gěi=to, give】我【wǒ=I】。

你 把 简历 发 给 我。

Example 3:

I haven’t sent the things to you yet.

我【wǒ=I】还【hái=yet】没【méi=not】把【bǎ】东西【dōngxi=thing】寄【jì=send】给【gěi=to, for, give】你【nǐ=you】。

我 还没 把 东西 寄 给 你。

d. Learn the Basics of Mandarin Chinese: The 把【bǎ】construction is often used with 到【dào=to, reach】for a change of location; include a book page-turn.

Grammar form:

(Subject) + 把【bǎ】+ Object + Verb + 到【dào=to】+ Other

Example 1:

Students, please turn to page ten in your book.

同学们【tóngxuémen=classmate, students】，把【bǎ】书【shū=book】反【fǎn=turn over】到【dào=to】第十页【dìshíyuè= page ten】。

同学们，把 书 反 到 第十页。

Example 2:

Where do they want to deliver these things?

他们【tāmen=they】要【yào=want to】把【bǎ】这些【zhèxiē=these】东西【dōngxī=thing】送【sòng=deliver】到【dào=to】哪里【nǎlǐ=where】去【qù=go】呢【ne】？

他们 要 把 这些 东西 送到 哪里 去 呢？