About
The character "罢" originates from its traditional form "罷", which is composed of the net radical "网" over the component "能", suggesting the idea of entangling or capturing ability. Its earliest meanings were tied to ending official duties, such as dismissing someone from a post or concluding legal matters, conveying a sense of enforced cessation or release from obligation. Over time, its application broadened from this administrative and legal context to express the idea of stopping or finishing any action, as seen in verbs like "to cease" or "to stop". The character was later structurally simplified by replacing the complex lower component "能" with "去", forming the modern "罢", which retains the core concept of bringing things to a close but now functions more generally as a verb for termination and also serves as a sentence-final particle indicating suggestion or resignation.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
算了，不打了。
工人们罢工了。
我不过是开个玩笑罢了。
他不达目的是不会罢休的。
由于天气恶劣，活动只好作罢。
也罢，不要再争论这个问题了。
议会投票通过了罢免案。
他不过是随口一说罢了，你别当真。