How to Write 罢 (bà) — Meaning “To stop; to dismiss; to finish”

Imagine a net (罒) dropping down to catch someone who is trying to leave (去), forcing them to stop. This picture of a net stopping a person from going away helps you remember that 罢 means to stop or dismiss.

Write the top radical 罒 as a net shape with four strokes: a vertical line left, a horizontal top, then two inner strokes, and close the bottom. The lower part 去 must be centered below, with the top stroke of 去 touching the net's bottom stroke. A common mistake is making the net too wide or the 去 too small, so keep proportions balanced.

罢 (bà) means to stop or dismiss, while 罔 (wǎng) means to deceive or net, and 罗 (luó) means a net or to collect. Visually, 罢 has 去 below, 罔 has 亡 below, and 罗 has 夕 below. In usage, 罢 is common in words like 罢工 (strike), whereas 罔 is rare and 罗 appears in 罗网 (net).

罢 is often used in formal or news contexts, such as 罢工 (labor strike) and 罢课 (student strike), which are important social actions. It also appears in 罢休 meaning "to give up" in phrases like 不肯罢休 (refuse to let it drop). Culturally, strikes are regulated in China, so these terms appear in historical or political discussions.

Common words containing 罢 include: 罢工 (bà gōng) — Labor strike; to go on strike; 罢课 (bà kè) — Student strike; to boycott classes; 罢休 (bà xiū) — To give up; to let the matter drop.