我们做朋友吧
wǒmen zuò péngyou ba
The English phrase "wanna be friends" is translated into Chinese as 我们做朋友吧 (wǒmen zuò péngyou ba).
This phrase is a friendly request used to ask someone to start a friendship with you. To make the request sound even more polite, you can add 请问 at the beginning of the sentence.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'We act/become friends [suggestion particle]'.
Which one should you use?
While 我们做朋友吧 is a friendly suggestion, the phrase 我们是朋友 (wǒmen shì péngyou) is used to make a statement of fact, meaning 'We are friends'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle 吧 at the end of the phrase functions as a suggestion marker. This softens the request, making it sound like a proposal rather than a command.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒmen zuò péngyou ba
When do people say it?
A common and natural response to this request is 好啊 (hǎo a), which means 'Sure!' or 'Okay!'
Did you know?
- While 朋友 refers to friends in general, the term 闺蜜 describes a woman's closest female friend and literally means 'bedchamber confidante'.
- In a digital context, rather than asking to 'be friends' via a spoken phrase, people often simply say 加个微信吧 ('Let's add WeChat'), which serves as the modern, functional way to initiate a friendship.
- Using the verb 交 instead of 做 in 交朋友 shifts the meaning toward a reciprocal exchange of social ties.
Examples in context
- 请问你愿意做朋友吗？May I ask if you would like to be friends?
- 咱们能当朋友吗？Can we be friends?
- 你愿意和我做朋友吗？Would you like to be friends with me?
- 要不要做朋友？Do you want to be friends?
- 我们做朋友吧。Wǒmen zuò péngyou ba.Let's be friends.
- 既然大家都喜欢音乐，我们做朋友吧。Jìrán dàjiā dōu xǐhuān yīnyuè, wǒmen zuò péngyou ba.Since we both like music, let's be friends.
Example conversation
Two students meeting for the first time in a school club.
- 梓涵 Zihan你好，我也想加入这个社团。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yě xiǎng jiārù zhège shètuan.Hello, I want to join this club too.
- 俊杰 Junjie欢迎你！很高兴认识你。Huānyíng nǐ! Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.Welcome! It is nice to meet you.
- 梓涵 Zihan那我们做朋友吧。Nà wǒmen zuò péngyou ba.Then let's be friends.
- 俊杰 Junjie好啊，梓涵。Hǎo a, Zǐhán.Sure, Zihan.
