Suggestions and Imperatives in Chinese

Overview

Chinese expresses suggestions, commands, and prohibitions through particles, adverbs, and modal verbs rather than verb mood changes. Key tools include 吧 (ba, softener), 别/不要 (don't), 请 (please), 应该 (should), and 最好 (had better). The particle 吧 is particularly versatile, turning commands into gentle suggestions.

At the CEFR B1 level, knowing how to make suggestions and give commands with appropriate politeness is essential for social interaction. Chinese uses a range of softening strategies -- from adding 吧 to using 最好 -- that allow speakers to be directive without being rude.

How It Works

Expression	Pinyin	Function	Example
V + 吧	ba	soft suggestion	走吧 (Let's go)
请 + V	qǐng	polite request	请坐 (Please sit)
别/不要 + V	bié/bú yào	prohibition	别说了 (Stop talking)
应该 + V	yīnggāi	should	你应该去 (You should go)
最好 + V	zuìhǎo	had better	最好早点走 (Better leave early)
V + 一下	yíxià	brief action	等一下 (Wait a moment)

Politeness scale (most to least polite)

Level	Example	Translation
Very polite	请您坐。	Please have a seat.
Polite	请坐吧。	Please sit down.
Friendly	坐吧。	Sit down.
Suggestion	你最好坐下。	You'd better sit.
Direct	坐下！	Sit down!
Prohibition	别站着！	Don't stand!

Examples in Context

Chinese	Pinyin	English	Note
我们走吧。	Wǒmen zǒu ba.	Let's go.	suggestion with 吧
别说了！	Bié shuō le!	Stop talking!	prohibition
你最好早点睡。	Nǐ zuìhǎo zǎo diǎn shuì.	You'd better sleep early.	advice
请坐。	Qǐng zuò.	Please sit.	polite
你应该去看医生。	Nǐ yīnggāi qù kàn yīshēng.	You should see a doctor.	should
等一下。	Děng yíxià.	Wait a moment.	brief action
不要着急。	Bú yào zhāojí.	Don't worry.	calming
吃吧，别客气。	Chī ba, bié kèqi.	Eat, don't be polite.	encouraging
你们安静一点！	Nǐmen ānjìng yìdiǎn!	Be quiet!	command
我建议你多练习。	Wǒ jiànyì nǐ duō liànxí.	I suggest you practice more.	formal suggestion

Common Mistakes

Being too direct without softeners

• Wrong: 做！(Do it!) -- too harsh in most contexts
• Right: 做吧。or 请做一下。
• Why: Chinese social norms favor indirectness; adding 吧, 请, or 一下 softens the command significantly.

Confusing 别 and 不要

• Wrong: Thinking they are completely different
• Right: They are largely interchangeable; 别 is shorter/more common in speech, 不要 is slightly more formal
• Why: Both mean "don't," but 别 is the everyday spoken form.

Overusing 应该 for suggestions

• Wrong: 你应该去那个饭店。(You should go to that restaurant -- sounds preachy)
• Right: 你可以去那个饭店。or 去那个饭店吧。(softer suggestion)
• Why: 应该 implies obligation; for casual suggestions, use 可以, 吧, or 最好.

Practice Tips

• Practice softening commands with 吧: convert 走 → 走吧, 吃 → 吃吧, 看 → 看看吧.
• Use 别/不要 for common prohibitions: 别担心, 别着急, 不要迟到.
• When giving advice, choose your register: 应该 (you should), 最好 (you'd better), or V + 吧 (how about...).

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Basic Sentence Structure -- understand statements before making them imperative