Chinese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
The passive with 被
How the 被 passive works, 让 and 叫 in speech, the passive without 被, and written forms such as 受到, 由 and 为…所.
被 + doer + verb + result
In a passive sentence, the thing or person the action happens to comes first. Chinese puts (bèi) before the doer: thing + + doer + verb + something more: (wǒ de zìxíngchē bèi rén tōu le), my bike was stolen (by someone). The doer can be left out: (wǒ de zìxíngchē bèi tōu le).
As with , the verb needs something after it: 了, a result or a direction. In speech, is mostly used for things that are unpleasant for the subject: being hit, robbed, broken, criticised. Negatives and time words go before : (wǒ de shǒujī méi bèi tōu), my phone wasn't stolen.
| Subject | (bèi) + doer | Verb + result | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| (wǒ de qiánbāo) | (bèi xiǎotōu) | (tōuzǒu le) | My wallet was stolen by a pickpocket. |
| (xiǎotōu) | (bèi jǐngchá) | (zhuāzhù le) | The thief was caught by the police. |
| (tā) | (bèi chē) | (zhuàng le) | He was hit by a car. |
| (shǒujī) | (bèi wǒ) | (shuāihuài le) | I dropped the phone and broke it. |
让 and 叫 in speech
In everyday speech (ràng) and (jiào) often replace , but then the doer must be named: (wǒ de sǎn ràng rén názǒu le), someone's taken my umbrella. 我的伞让拿走了 is wrong.
Remember that also means “let, ask, make”, so the context decides: (tā ràng wǒ děng yíxià) means he asked me to wait a moment.
- 我的电脑被弟弟弄坏了。Wǒ de diànnǎo bèi dìdi nònghuài le.My younger brother broke my laptop.
- 他昨天被老板批评了。Tā zuótiān bèi lǎobǎn pīpíng le.He was told off by his boss yesterday.
- 我的伞让人拿走了。Wǒ de sǎn ràng rén názǒu le.Someone has taken my umbrella.
- 屏幕被摔坏了。Píngmù bèi shuāihuài le.The screen got broken when it was dropped.
The passive without 被
When the thing obviously can't do the action itself, Chinese simply puts it first, with no : (fángzi gàihǎo le), the building is finished; (xīn xiànlù xiūhǎo le), the new line has been completed; (piào màiwán le), the tickets have sold out. This is the normal way to report neutral or good results; with it would sound as if something bad had happened.
- 饭做好了，来吃吧。Fàn zuòhǎo le, lái chī ba.Dinner's ready, come and eat.
- 信已经寄出去了。Xìn yǐjīng jì chūqu le.The letter has been sent.
- 问题已经解决了。Wèntí yǐjīng jiějué le.The problem has been solved.
Written passives: 受到, 由, 为…所 (B2)
Formal Chinese has more ways to express the passive, and they aren't negative. (shòudào) and (dédào), receive, take an abstract noun: (shòudào huānyíng), be well received; (dédào guǎngfàn yìngyòng), be widely used. (yóu) names who is responsible: (yóu gōngrén ānzhuāng), installed by the workers.
为…所 is literary: (wéi rénmen suǒ shúxī), known to people. (suǒ) also appears before a verb in phrases like (suǒ xūyào de cáiliào), the materials that are needed. In writing, can be neutral: (bèi chēngwéi), be called.
- 太阳能已经得到了广泛应用。Tàiyángnéng yǐjīng dédàole guǎngfàn yìngyòng.Solar power is already widely used.
- 电池板由专业工人安装。Diànchíbǎn yóu zhuānyè gōngrén ānzhuāng.The panels are installed by professional workers.
- 这部电影受到了观众的欢迎。Zhè bù diànyǐng shòudàole guānzhòng de huānyíng.The film was well received by audiences.