B2 · 中上級 チャプター 3

The Passive Voice: When Things Happen to You

7 トータルルール
72 例文
7 分
このチャプターのルール クイック練習

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of the Chinese passive voice to sound more natural and descriptive.

  • Master the 'bèi' (被) structure for standard passive sentences.
  • Use 'gěi' (给) and 'ràng/jiào' (让/叫) for casual, everyday conversations.
  • Apply 'shòudào' (受到) to express receiving abstract influences and praise.
Stop doing, start being done to.

学べること

Ready to level up your Chinese and sound more natural? This chapter is all about understanding the passive voice – how to talk about things that happen *to* people or objects, especially when you don't know who did it, or you want to focus on the event itself. It sounds complicated, but trust me, it's super useful and actually pretty fun in Chinese! We'll dive into 7 key ways to use the passive. First, you'll master 'bèi' (被). This powerful word is often used for slightly unfortunate events – think

My phone was stolen
or
My bag was snatched.
You'll learn how to clearly state what happened to something. Then, we'll get colloquial with 'gěi' (给), a more casual way to express something happening, like
My cake got eaten by my friend.
After that, 'ràng/jiào' (让/叫) will teach you how to say things like
My friend made me do it
or
I was made to wait,
in a relaxed, everyday tone. Finally, you'll discover 'shòudào' (受到), perfect for describing receiving abstract things like praise, attention, or influence –
I received a lot of praise.
Imagine chatting with friends and being able to say,
My photo got liked!
or
I was helped on the street.
Or even
This award was given to me.
By the end of this chapter, you'll confidently navigate these everyday situations. You won't just be learning grammar; you'll be unlocking a whole new way to tell stories and share your experiences in Chinese. Let's make your Chinese even more awesome!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to describe an unfortunate event using the 'bèi' (被) structure correctly.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to differentiate between formal and informal passive markers in speech.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to express receiving abstract concepts like 'welcome' or 'influence' using 'shòudào'.

チャプターガイド

Overview

Welcome to your next step in mastering Chinese grammar! As you progress to the B2 level, understanding the nuances of the passive voice isn't just about correctness; it's about sounding truly natural and expressing yourself with greater sophistication. This chapter,
The Passive Voice: When Things Happen to You,
is designed to unlock a whole new dimension of storytelling in Chinese.
We'll explore how to talk about events where the focus is on the recipient of an action, rather than the doer, which is a critical skill for any B2 Chinese learner.
Many learners find the Chinese passive voice initially challenging because it doesn't always map directly to English structures. However, once you grasp the core patterns, you'll see how incredibly useful and versatile they are. From expressing unfortunate incidents like
My phone was stolen
to receiving abstract concepts like attention or praise, the passive voice allows you to describe a wider range of real-life situations.
Get ready to dive into the powerful particles 被 (bèi), 给 (gěi), 让/叫 (ràng/jiào), and the formal 受到 (shòudào), each with its own special flavor and usage context. Mastering these will significantly enhance your ability to communicate complex ideas and engage in more dynamic conversations.

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the different ways to form the passive voice in Chinese, making your communication clearer and more natural. First up is 被 (bèi), often introduced as "The Passive 'bèi' (被): How Things Happen to You." This is the most common and versatile passive marker, typically used for slightly negative or unfortunate events. The basic structure is: Subject + 被 + (Agent) + Verb + Other elements.
For example: 我的手机被偷了 (Wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōu le) –
My phone was stolen.
Here, the agent (the thief) is often omitted if unknown or unimportant.
Next, we have
The Colloquial Passive (给),
which uses 给 (gěi). While 给 can mean to give, in its passive form, it's often more casual and can sometimes replace 被, especially in spoken Chinese, and usually for negative outcomes. For instance: 我的蛋糕给朋友吃了 (Wǒ de dànggāo gěi péngyǒu chī le) –
My cake was eaten by my friend.
This gives a slightly lighter, less formal tone than 被.
Then there's
Casual Passive with 让/叫(ràng/jiào),
which employs 让 (ràng) or 叫 (jiào). These are also quite common in colloquial speech and can express being 'made to' do something, or something happening to you, similar to 被 but often implying an external influence or instruction. For example: 我被老板叫去开会了 (Wǒ bèi lǎobǎn jiào qù kāihuì le) –
I was made to go to a meeting by my boss.
Or, 我的计划让大雨耽误了 (Wǒ de jìhuà ràng dàyǔ dànwu le) –
My plan was delayed by the heavy rain.
Finally, for a more formal and specific passive, we use "Chinese Passive Vibe: How to use '受到' (shòudào).
受到 (shòudào) means
to receive or to suffer
and is primarily used with abstract nouns, often for positive or neutral experiences like praise, attention, or influence. For example: 他受到了很多表扬 (Tā shòudào le hěn duō biǎoyáng) –
He received a lot of praise.
Or, 他的观点受到了广泛关注 (Tā de guāndiǎn shòudào le guǎngfàn guānzhù) –
His views received widespread attention." Each of these structures adds a unique flavor to your B2 Chinese communication.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我的手机被。 (Wǒ de shǒujī bèi.)
✓ Correct: 我的手机被偷了。 (Wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōu le.)
*Explanation:* The passive marker 被 (bèi) must always be followed by a verb and usually other elements (like 了 le for completion). It cannot stand alone.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我被帮助了。 (Wǒ bèi bāngzhù le.)
✓ Correct: 我得到了帮助。 (Wǒ dédào le bāngzhù.) OR 有人帮助了我。 (Yǒurén bāngzhù le wǒ.)
*Explanation:* While 被 (bèi) can be used for positive events, it often carries a subtle nuance of being affected or suffering the action. For purely positive or neutral events, it's often more natural to use the active voice, or phrases like 得到 (dédào) to obtain/receive.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我把钱包给小偷偷了。 (Wǒ bǎ qiánbāo gěi xiǎotōu tōu le.)
✓ Correct: 我的钱包被小偷偷了。 (Wǒ de qiánbāo bèi xiǎotōu tōu le.) OR 我的钱包给小偷偷了。 (Wǒ de qiánbāo gěi xiǎotōu tōu le.)
*Explanation:* Don't combine the 把 (bǎ) structure with the passive 给 (gěi) or 被 (bèi) in this way. The 把 structure is active, while 被 and 给 introduce passive sentences.

Real Conversations

A

A

你的自行车怎么了？ (Nǐ de zìxíngchē zěnme le?) (What happened to your bicycle?)
B

B

哎，我的自行车被偷了。 (Āi, wǒ de zìxíngchē bèi tōu le.) (Oh, my bicycle was stolen.)
A

A

听说你昨天迟到了？ (Tīngshuō nǐ zuótiān chídào le?) (I heard you were late yesterday?)
B

B

是啊，我被堵在路上了，很无奈。 (Shì a, wǒ bèi dǔ zài lùshàng le, hěn wúnài.) (Yeah, I got stuck in traffic, very frustrating.)
A

A

你的论文怎么样了？ (Nǐ de lùnwén zěnmeyàng le?) (How's your thesis going?)
B

B

导师的意见很多，我的论文受到了很大的修改。 (Dǎoshī de yìjiàn hěn duō, wǒ de lùnwén shòudào le hěn dà de xiūgǎi.) (The supervisor had many comments, my thesis underwent significant revision.)

Quick FAQ

Q

Can 被 (bèi) be used for positive events in Chinese grammar?

While 被 (bèi) is most commonly associated with unfortunate events, it can occasionally be used for positive or neutral ones, especially when emphasizing the recipient's experience or the unexpected nature of the event. However, it's often more natural to use the active voice or specific verbs like 得到 (dédào) for purely positive outcomes.

Q

What's the main difference between 被 (bèi) and 让 (ràng) in the passive voice?

Both 被 (bèi) and 让 (ràng) can indicate a passive action. 被 (bèi) is more formal and universally applicable, often implying a negative or undesirable outcome. 让 (ràng) is more colloquial, often used for being made to do something or something happening due to an external force, and can sometimes feel less formal than 被.

Q

Is there a true passive voice in Chinese, similar to English's be + past participle?

Chinese doesn't have a direct equivalent of be + past participle as a universal passive marker. Instead, it uses various particles like 被 (bèi), 给 (gěi), 让 (ràng), 叫 (jiào), and constructions like 受到 (shòudào), each with specific nuances and contexts, to convey passive meaning.

Q

When should I use 受到 (shòudào) instead of 被 (bèi) for passive constructions?

Use 受到 (shòudào) when the subject receives or experiences an abstract noun, such as praise (表扬), attention (关注), influence (影响), education (教育), or criticism (批评). It's more formal and focuses on the reception of an abstract concept, whereas 被 (bèi) is used for direct actions.

Cultural Context

In Chinese, the active voice is generally preferred, making passive constructions less frequent than in English. However, when used, the passive voice, particularly with 被 (bèi), often highlights the outcome or the affected party, especially if the agent is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted. Using 给 (gěi), 让 (ràng), or 叫 (jiào) adds a layer of colloquialism, making your speech sound more authentic and less bookish, reflecting everyday conversations.
受到 (shòudào), on the other hand, elevates the tone for more formal or academic discourse when discussing receiving abstract concepts.

重要な例文 (4)

1

我的手机被偷了。

スマホを盗まれました。

受身の「被」(Bèi): 「被害」を表す文
2

蛋糕被弟弟吃完了。

ケーキを弟に全部食べられちゃった。

受身の「被」(Bèi): 「被害」を表す文
3

他在学校受到欢迎。

彼は学校でとても人気があります。

感情の受動態：'受到' (shòudào) の使い方
4

这张照片受到很多关注。

この写真は多くの注目を集めました。

感情の受動態：'受到' (shòudào) の使い方

ヒントとコツ (4)

⚠️

動詞を「裸」にしないで！

「被」の文では、動詞一文字だけで終わらせることはできません。必ず「了」や、結果を表す言葉、方向を表す「走」などを付け加えて変化を表現してください: «书被拿走了。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 中国語の受身形：〜された (被)
💬

被害者のメンタリティ

伝統的に「被」は不運なことに使われてきました。最近は「愛される」のような表現も増えていますが、年配の方には少しドラマチックすぎる響きに聞こえるかもしれません。 «我被他感動了。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 受身の「被」(Bèi): 「被害」を表す文
⚠️

動詞を裸にしないで！

動詞を単独で使うのはNGです。必ず「了」や結果補語（完、掉、走）などを付けて、動作が完了したことを示しましょう。«书被看完了。» のように補いましょう。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 受身の「bèi」(被)：何かが起こったとき
💡

「被害者」を文の先頭に！

「被」の文を作る時は、まずアクションの影響を受けた「被害者」から話し始めると、語順がスムーズに決まりますよ。 «包被偷了。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 「被」(bèi)受動態：不幸な出来事について話す

重要な語彙 (7)

偷 to steal 丢 to lose / to throw away 表扬 to praise / to commend 骗 to cheat / to trick 撞 to hit / to collide 批评 to criticize 欢迎 to welcome

Real-World Preview

alert-triangle

Reporting a Theft

users

Gossiping with Friends

Review Summary

  • Subj. + 被 (bèi) + Doer + Verb + Result
  • Subj. + 被 + Doer + 给 (gěi) + Verb
  • Subj. + 让/叫 (ràng/jiào) + Doer + Verb
  • Subj. + 受到 (shòudào) + Abstract Noun

よくある間違い

Negation words like 'méi' or 'bù' must come BEFORE 'bèi', not after it.

Wrong: 我被没偷钱包 (wǒ bèi méi tōu qián bāo)
正解: 我没被偷钱包 (wǒ méi bèi tōu qián bāo)

When using 'ràng' or 'jiào', you MUST include the person who did the action. If you don't know who it is, use 'rén' (person).

Wrong: 我的手机让拿走了 (wǒ de shǒu jī ràng ná zǒu le)
正解: 我的手机让人拿走了 (wǒ de shǒu jī ràng rén ná zǒu le)

'Shòudào' is for abstract things (praise, influence). For physical gifts, use 'shōudào' (收到 - same sound, different character/meaning).

Wrong: 我受到一个礼物 (wǒ shòu dào yí gè lǐ wù)
正解: 我收到了一个礼物 (wǒ shōu dào le yí gè lǐ wù)

このチャプターのルール (7)

1

中国語の受身形：〜された (被)

B2
被害やアクシデントを伝える時は «被» (bèi) の出番です。«結果補語» や «了» をセットにして、何がどうなったかをはっきりさせましょう。
我被发现了。
10 例文
2

受身の「被」(Bèi): 「被害」を表す文

B2
望まない出来事や、誰がやったか分からない時に「被害者」を主役にする魔法の言葉、それが «被» です。 «被害» «結果»
我的手机被偷了。
10 例文
3

受身の「bèi」(被)：何かが起こったとき

B2
受身文の「被（bèi）」は、主に「困ったこと」や「状態の変化」を強調する時に使う魔法の言葉です。«被» を使って被害や結果を表現しましょう。
我的手机被偷了。
10 例文
4

「被」(bèi)受動態：不幸な出来事について話す

B2
「被害者」が主役！不運な出来事や望まない結果を伝える時は «被» (bèi) を使いましょう。
我的可乐被喝了。
11 例文
5

口語的な受動態 (给)

B2
受身文の動詞の前に «给» を添えるだけで、会話がぐっとネイティブらしくなります。ポイントは «被» «让» «叫» とセットで使うことです。
我的外卖让人给拿走了！
10 例文
6

感情の受動態：'受到' (shòudào) の使い方

B2
目に見えない「賞賛」や「影響」を自然に受け取るなら «受到» を使いましょう。
他在学校受到欢迎。
10 例文
7

{让/叫|ràng/jiào} を使ったカジュアルな受身

B2
日常会話で「〜されちゃった」と言いたい時は、«让» や «叫» の後ろに「誰がしたか」を置いて表現しましょう。
{我的蛋糕让弟弟吃了。|Wǒ de dàngāo ràng dìdi chī l...
11 例文

Next Steps

You've just unlocked a major part of sounding like a fluent Chinese speaker. Keep practicing these passive structures, and soon they will feel like second nature!

Journaling

Roleplay a 'lost and found' scenario

Continue to: Emphasis and Necessity

クイック練習 (10)

文法的に正しい文を選んでください。

正しい文はどれ？

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 蛋糕被我吃了。
語順は「受け手 (蛋糕) + 被 + 動作主 (我) + 動詞 (吃了)」が正解です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 「被」(bèi)受動態：不幸な出来事について話す

この口語文の間違いを見つけてください。

Find and fix the mistake:

{我的|wǒ de} {钱包|qiánbāo} {被|bèi} {给|gěi} {小偷|xiǎotōu} {拿|ná} {走|zǒu} {了|le}。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {我的|wǒ de} {钱包|qiánbāo} {被|bèi} {小偷|xiǎotōu} {给|gěi} {拿|ná} {走|zǒu} {le}。
「给」は必ず実行者（小偷）の後、動詞（拿走）の前に置かなければなりません。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 口語的な受動態 (给)

この文の間違いを直してください。

Find and fix the mistake:

{苹果被吃了|píngguǒ bèi chī}

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {苹果被吃了|píngguǒ bèi chī le}
「被」の文では、動詞の後に完了を表す「了」などが必要です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 受身の「被」(Bèi): 「被害」を表す文

空欄を埋めて、口語として自然な受身文を完成させてください。

{作业|zuòyè} {让|ràng} {狗|gǒu} ___ {吃|chī} {了|le}。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 给
口語的な受身文では、動詞の直前に「给」を置きます。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 口語的な受動態 (给)

空欄に適切な受身のマーカーを入れてください。

{我的钱___偷了|wǒ de qián ___ tōu le} (私のお金が盗まれました)。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 被
主語（お金）がアクション（盗む）の受け手になっているので、受身の「被」が必要です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 受身の「被」(Bèi): 「被害」を表す文

文の間違いを見つけて直してください。

我被老师表扬了。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 老师表扬了我。
褒められるのは良いことなので、「被」を使うと不自然です。能動態にするのがベストです。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 「被」(bèi)受動態：不幸な出来事について話す

語順のミスを修正してください。

Find and fix the mistake:

作业被没有我做完。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 作业没有被我做完。
「没有（méiyǒu）」などの否定語は、必ず「被」の前に置くのがルールです。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 受身の「bèi」(被)：何かが起こったとき

空欄を埋めて文を完成させてください。

我的自行车 ___ 偷了。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 被
何かが「盗まれた」という不運な受身の出来事を表すには「被」を使います。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 「被」(bèi)受動態：不幸な出来事について話す

文法的に正しい文はどれですか？

正しい受身文を選んでください：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {杯子被弟弟打破了|bēizi bèi dìdi dǎ pò le}
語順は「受け手（コップ）＋ 被 ＋ 加害者（弟）＋ 動詞（叩く）＋ 結果（割れた）」となります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 受身の「被」(Bèi): 「被害」を表す文

受身の文にするために、空欄を埋めてください。

我的蛋糕 ___ 他吃了。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 被
ケーキが食べられた側（受け手）なので、受身の「被（bèi）」を使います。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 受身の「bèi」(被)：何かが起こったとき

Score: /10

よくある質問 (6)

日常会話の9割はそうです。話し手にとって不都合な状況を指します。ただ、フォーマルな場では中立的な事実としても使われます: «他被选为代表。»
文法的には可能ですが、不自然です。恩恵を受けた時は «他帮了我» のように言うのが普通です。«被» を使うと被害者のように聞こえます。
可能ですが、日常会話では少し珍しいです。例えば「学級委員に選ばれた」のような文はありますが、基本は「自分の意志とは無関係に何かが起きた」というニュアンスになります。 «他被选为班长。»
英語では「夕食が出される」のように多用しますが、中国語は「誰かが夕食を出した」という能動的な言い方を好みます。不運や被害を強調したい時以外は、普通の文を使いましょう。 «晚餐被准备好了。»
必ずしもそうではありません。中国語には「意味上の受身」があり、文脈でわかる場合は «书看完 了» のように言えます。ただ、被害を強調したい時は「被」がベストです。
はい、«他被老师表扬了» と言えますが、少し硬い響きになります。日常会話では «老师表扬他了» と能動態で言うことが多いですね。
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