走吧
zǒu ba
Let's go
走吧 (zǒu ba) is a very common and versatile way to say "let's go" or "let's leave" in Mandarin Chinese. It's used to suggest an action of going or departing, suitable for most everyday situations.
What does 走吧 (zǒu ba) mean?
走吧 (zǒu ba) means “let's go” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “walk/go particle.”
When to use it
Neutral. It's polite and friendly. For a more direct or assertive "let's go," you can use 我们走 (wǒmen zǒu). If you're talking about starting a journey or setting off, 出发吧 (chūfā ba) is appropriate. When someone suggests going, you can agree with 好啊 (hǎo a, "okay!") or 走吧 (zǒu ba, "let's go!").
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "zoh-BAH." 走 is a third tone, pronounced with a dip, and 吧 is a neutral tone, said lightly.
Other ways to say it
- 我们走wǒmen zǒulet's go (more direct)
- 出发吧chūfā balet's depart / set off
- 走啦zǒu lalet's go (casual, often playful)
Examples
走吧，我们去吃饭。
zǒu ba, wǒmen qù chīfàn.
Let's go, we're going to eat.
时间不早了，我们走吧。
shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒmen zǒu ba.
It's getting late, let's go.
快点，走吧！
kuài diǎn, zǒu ba!
Hurry up, let's go!
Pro tip: The particle 吧 (ba) at the end of a sentence often indicates a suggestion, proposal, or mild command. It softens the tone, making "go" into "let's go" or "how about going?"
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