罢 bà to cease
to cease; to finish; to stop; to quit
How it came to be
会意 · Meaning + meaning
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
The small seal form shows a bear caught under a net.
How it is used
- To stop/cease/dismiss: 罢工 (bàgōng) to strike, 罢课 (bàkè) a class boycott, 罢免 (bàmiǎn) to remove from office, 罢休 (bàxiū) to give up (不肯罢休 refuse to let it drop).
- 罢了 (bàle) is a particle softening a statement to 'that's all / never mind': 说说罢了 (shuōshuo bàle) just talking, nothing more.