Final Particle 4 – 罢了 bàle

Grammar Point:
罷罢了 bàle is a final particle used at the end of a sentence. It has the sense of “that’s all” / “nothing more than” / “just”. It is often used to downplay, soften, or limit the statement, making it sound less strong or definitive.

Structure

Sentence + 罷罢了 bàle

我wǒ只zhǐ是shì想xiǎng幫忙bāngmáng罷了bàle我wǒ只zhǐ是shì想xiǎng帮忙bāngmáng罢了bàle
I just wanted to help, that’s all.

他tā不bù高興gāoxìng罷了bàle，沒什麼méishénme大不了dàbùliǎo的de他tā不bù高兴gāoxìng罢了bàle，没什么méishénme大不了dàbùliǎo的de
He’s just unhappy, nothing serious.

我wǒ不會búhuì中文zhōngwén，只zhǐ會huì說shuō一點yìdiǎn罷了bàle我wǒ不会búhuì中文zhōngwén，只zhǐ会huì说shuō一点儿yìdiǎnr罢了bàle
I don’t really speak Chinese; I can only speak a little.

他tā不bù想xiǎng去qù，也yě就jiù罷了bàle他tā不bù想xiǎng去qù，也yě就jiù罢了bàle
He doesn’t want to go, so that’s fine / it’s settled.

我wǒ只是zhǐshì開玩笑kāiwánxiào罷了bàle我wǒ只是zhǐshì开玩笑kāiwánxiào罢了bàle
I was just joking.

他tā不bù想xiǎng參加cānjiā比賽bǐsài，只是zhǐshì怕pà輸shū罷了bàle他tā不bù想xiǎng参加cānjiā比赛bǐsài，只是zhǐshì怕pà输shū罢了bàle
He doesn’t want to join the competition; he’s just afraid of losing.

我們wǒmen只是zhǐshì朋友péngyǒu罷了bàle我们wǒmen只是zhǐshì朋友péngyou罢了bàle
We’re just friends, that’s all.

罷罢了 bàle VS 而已 éryǐ

• 罷罢了 bàle：“that’s all,” “just,” “only,” often used to downplay or soften a statement.

• 而已 éryǐ：“that’s all,” “only,” more formal or neutral, often in written or polite speech.