The `被` (bèi) Passive: Talking About Unfortunate Events
被 (bèi) structure is for talking about unfortunate things that happen to people or objects.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {被|bèi} to describe an action happening to a subject, usually implying an unfortunate or negative outcome.
- Subject + {被|bèi} + Agent + Verb: {我的|wǒde} {手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {他|tā} {拿走|názǒu} {了|le}.
- If the agent is unknown, omit it: {钱包|qiánbāo} {被|bèi} {偷|tōu} {了|le}.
- Never use {被|bèi} for positive events; it is reserved for negative experiences.
Overview
In Mandarin Chinese, the passive voice is predominantly expressed through the 被 (bèi) construction. While the English passive can be neutral or positive ("The winner was announced"), you should understand from the outset that 被 carries a strong, inherent connotation of adversity, misfortune, or events happening against the subject's will. It is the grammatical tool for explaining that something, usually something unfortunate, has happened to someone or something.
Its primary function is to shift the sentence's focus from the performer of the action (the agent) to the entity that receives or endures the action (the patient).
Historically, the character 被 meant 'a blanket' or 'to cover,' later evolving to mean 'to suffer' or 'to endure.' This etymological root is key to its modern usage; it retains a flavor of being burdened or negatively affected. For you as a B2 learner, internalizing this negative association is the single most important step to using 被 naturally. Thinking of it as the "unfortunate event marker" will prevent the most common errors made by non-native speakers.
While neutral uses exist in formal and written language, they are the exception, not the rule for everyday communication.
How This Grammar Works
被 (bèi) construction inverts the standard Chinese Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order to achieve its passive effect. In a typical active sentence, the agent is the subject: 小偷 (xiǎo tōu, thief) 偷了 (tōule, stole) 我的钱包 (wǒ de qiánbāo, my wallet). Here, the agent 小偷 is the grammatical subject and the focus of the action.我的钱包 is moved to the front of the sentence to become the new subject and topic. The 被 marker is then inserted before the agent and verb. The core linguistic principle at play here is known as disposal.被 and 把 (bǎ) constructions are disposal structures, meaning they describe what happens to an object—how it is handled, affected, or 'disposed of.' This is why verbs in 被 sentences cannot stand alone; they must be followed by a complement or particle that specifies the result or outcome of the action. The sentence is not just about the action, but its tangible effect on the patient.- Active:
老板(lǎobǎn, boss)批评了(pīpíngle, criticized)他(tā, him). - (Agent-Verb-Patient)
- Passive:
他(tā, he)被(bèi)老板(lǎobǎn, by the boss)批评了(pīpíngle, was criticized). - (Patient-
被-Agent-Verb-Result)
他 is the subject, and the sentence is now about his experience of being criticized. The verb phrase, 批评了 (pīpíngle), includes the aspect particle 了 (le) to show the action is completed, satisfying the disposal requirement. Without a resultative element like 了 (le), 坏 (huài, broken), or 走 (zǒu, away), the sentence would feel grammatically incomplete to a native speaker, as if the outcome were missing.Formation Pattern
被 (bèi) sentence is rigid and predictable. The receiver of the action (patient) is always the subject. The agent is optional. The verb must be accompanied by an element describing the result.
Receiver (Patient) + 被 + Agent + Verb + Complement / Other Element
我的蛋糕 | wǒ de dàngāo | My cake |
被 | 被 | bèi | (passive marker) |
弟弟 | dìdi | younger brother |
吃完了 | chī wán le | was eaten up |
我的蛋糕被弟弟吃完了。 | wǒ de dàngāo bèi dìdi chī wán le. | My cake was eaten up by my younger brother. |
那本书被老师拿走了。 (nà běn shū bèi lǎoshī ná zǒu le.) – "That book was taken away by the teacher."
Receiver (Patient) + 被 + Verb + Complement / Other Element
我的手机 | wǒ de shǒujī | My phone |
被 | 被 | bèi | (passive marker) |
偷了 | tōule | was stolen |
我的手机被偷了。 | wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōule. | My phone was stolen. |
窗户被风吹开了。 (chuānghù bèi fēng chuī kāi le.) – "The window was blown open by the wind." Even here, if the context of wind is obvious, you might just say 窗户被吹开了。 (The window was blown open.)
被 sentence must indicate a result. This is non-negotiable. Common complements include:
了 (le): Indicates completion. 我的计划被取消了。 (wǒ de jìhuà bèi qǔxiāole.) - "My plan was canceled."
坏 (huài, broken), 错 (cuò, wrong), 完 (wán, finished), 掉 (diào, off/away). 我的电脑被修好了。 (wǒ de diànnǎo bèi xiū hǎole.) - "My computer was fixed." (Note: 好 as a result can be neutral, but the initial problem was negative.)
走 (zǒu, away) or 下去 (xiàqù, down). 垃圾被拿出去了。 (lājī bèi ná chūqùle.) - "The trash was taken out."
过 (guo): Indicates a past experience. 他没被老板批评过。 (tā méi bèi lǎobǎn pīpíngguò.) - "He has never been criticized by the boss."
When To Use It
被 (bèi) construction strategically to control the narrative focus and convey specific tones. At the B2 level, its use cases are clear and revolve around the central theme of misfortune.- To Report Unfortunate Events: This is its primary and most frequent function. Use it for any situation with a negative outcome for the subject: accidents, damage, loss, criticism, or harm.
我的车被刮了。(wǒ de chē bèi guāle.) – "My car was scratched."他开会的时候被点名了。(tā kāihuì de shíhòu bèi diǎnmíngle.) – "He was called out by name during the meeting." (Implies an unwanted spotlight).
- To Emphasize the Patient and the Result: When what happened is more important than who did it,
被is the perfect tool. This is common in news reporting and objective descriptions of events. 那座古老的建筑在火灾中被完全烧毁了。(nà zuò gǔlǎo de jiànzhù zài huǒzāi zhōng bèi wánquán shāohuǐle.) – "That ancient building was completely destroyed in the fire."- The focus here is the destruction of the building, not the cause of the fire.
- When the Agent is Unknown, Irrelevant, or Best Left Unsaid: The agentless
被pattern is highly efficient. You can describe an outcome without needing to assign blame or identify a cause. 我的申请被拒绝了。(wǒ de shēnqǐng bèi jùjuéle.) – "My application was rejected." (Who rejected it is less important than the result.)- This can also be a way to be diplomatic or avoid confrontation by not naming the agent.
- In Formal/Written Language (Advanced Use): You will encounter neutral or even positive uses of
被in formal writing, such as news articles, academic papers, or official announcements. For example,他被选为代表。(tā bèi xuǎn wèi dàibiǎo.) – "He was elected as the representative." However, you should avoid producing these sentences yourself in regular conversation, as they can sound stilted or ironic. Acknowledge them when you read them, but stick to the unfortunate-event rule in your own speech and writing.
Common Mistakes
被 structure is crucial for avoiding awkward and unnatural-sounding sentences. These mistakes often stem from direct translation from English.被 for Positive or Neutral Events被 sentence.- Incorrect:
我被邀请参加派对了。(wǒ bèi yāoqǐng cānjiā pàiduìle.) - This sounds as if you were forced to go or the invitation was a burden.
- Correct Alternatives:
他们邀请我参加派对了。 (tāmen yāoqǐng wǒ cānjiā pàiduìle.) | The simplest and most natural way. "They invited me..." |受到 (shòudào) | 我受到了他们的邀请。 (wǒ shòudàole tāmen de yāoqǐng.) | 受到 means 'to receive' and is used for abstract, often positive or neutral things like praise, invitations, influence, or education. |派对，我被邀请了。 (pàiduì, wǒ bèi yāoqǐngle.) | This can work, but the topic 派对 changes the focus. The 被 here still feels slightly passive/involuntary. |被 sentence describes a completed action with a clear result. A bare verb after 被 is almost always ungrammatical.- Incorrect:
我的作业被狗吃。(wǒ de zuòyè bèi gǒu chī.) - Correct:
我的作业被狗吃了。(wǒ de zuòyè bèi gǒu chīle.) – "My homework was eaten by the dog." - Correct:
我的作业被狗吃掉了一半。(wǒ de zuòyè bèi gǒu chī diàole yībàn.) – "Half of my homework was eaten away by the dog."
被 (bèi) and 把 (bǎ)把 (bǎ) Construction | 被 (bèi) Construction |我把窗户打破了。 (wǒ bǎ chuānghù dǎpòle.) "I broke the window." | 窗户被我打破了。 (chuānghù bèi wǒ dǎpòle.) "The window was broken by me." |被 with Intransitive Verbs被 sentence. Intransitive verbs like 来 (lái, to come), 睡 (shuì, to sleep), or 哭 (kū, to cry) cannot be used with 被 because the subject is performing the action itself, not receiving it.- Incorrect:
他被哭了。(tā bèi kūle.) - Correct:
他哭了。(tā kūle.) – "He cried."
Real Conversations
In modern, everyday Chinese, 被 is used constantly to describe everything from minor annoyances to major life events. Its use in social media and slang is particularly dynamic.
- Everyday Annoyances:
- 我的外卖被送错了地址。 (wǒ de wàimài bèi sòng cuòle dìzhǐ.) – "My food delivery was sent to the wrong address."
- 今天开会，老板的想法又变了，我做的PPT全被否定了。 (jīntiān kāihuì, lǎobǎn de xiǎngfǎ yòu biànle, wǒ zuò de PPT quán bèi fǒudìngle.) – "In the meeting today, the boss changed his mind again, and the entire PowerPoint I made was rejected."
- Social Media and Internet Culture: The passive voice is a natural fit for describing online interactions.
- 我的账号被盗了。 (wǒ de zhànghào bèi dàole.) – "My account was hacked."
- 他因为那条评论被网友骂惨了。 (tā yīnwèi nà tiáo pínglùn bèi wǎngyǒu mà cǎnle.) – "He got flamed by netizens because of that comment."
- 我被拉黑了。 (wǒ bèi lāhēile.) – "I was blocked." (Literally, 'pulled into the blacklist').
- A more modern, non-negative slang usage: 我被这个视频种草了。 (wǒ bèi zhège shìpín zhǒngcǎole.) – "This video made me want to buy the product." (Literally, 'a seed was planted in me'. The passive sense of being influenced is key.)
- Colloquial Alternatives: 叫 (jiào) and 让 (ràng)
In informal, spoken Chinese (especially in northern China), 叫 (jiào) and 让 (ràng) are often used as substitutes for 被. They function almost identically but have two key distinctions:
They are more colloquial. You would rarely write them in a formal essay.
They almost always require an agent. You cannot omit it.
- 我的手机让他弄坏了。 (wǒ de shǒujī ràng tā nòng huàile.) – "My phone was broken by him." (Informal version of 被他弄坏了)
- 蛋糕叫妹妹吃了。 (dàngāo jiào mèimei chīle.) – "The cake was eaten by my little sister." (Informal version of 被妹妹吃了)
Quick FAQ
被 ever be used for good things in conversation?It's extremely rare and usually sounds ironic or sarcastic. For example, saying 我被表扬了 (wǒ bèi biǎoyángle) might imply the praise was unwanted or made you uncomfortable. While you'll see positive uses in formal writing (被评为 - 'to be awarded the title of...'), you should strictly avoid this in your own daily speech. Stick to the 'unfortunate events' rule.
No. In fact, omitting the agent is very common, perhaps even more so than including it. The agentless pattern Patient + 被 + Verb + Complement is perfect for when the agent is unknown, obvious from context, or unimportant to the message.
被 (bèi), 叫 (jiào), and 让 (ràng)?被 is the standard passive marker for both formal and informal contexts. 叫 and 让 are informal, spoken alternatives primarily used in northern dialects. The most important functional difference is that 叫 and 让 nearly always require you to state the agent, whereas with 被, the agent is optional.
被 sentence?Place the negation word 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) directly before 被. For example: 我的钱包没被偷。 (wǒ de qiánbāo méi bèi tōu.) – "My wallet wasn't stolen." Note that you often drop the final 了 (le) when negating with 没 (méi).
被 with any verb?No. The verb must be a transitive action that can have a 'disposal' effect on a patient. Verbs describing states or actions that don't affect an external object, like 是 (shì, to be), 存在 (cúnzài, to exist), or 休息 (xiūxí, to rest), cannot be used with 被.
Passive Construction Patterns
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + 被 + Agent + Verb + Complement
|
{手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {他|tā} {拿走|názǒu} {了|le}.
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + 没(有) + 被 + Agent + Verb
|
{手机|shǒujī} {没|méi} {被|bèi} {他|tā} {拿走}.
|
|
Agentless
|
Subj + 被 + Verb + Complement
|
{手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {偷走|tōujǐ} {了|le}.
|
|
Question
|
Subj + 被 + Agent + Verb + 了 + 吗?
|
{手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {他|tā} {拿走|názǒu} {了|le} {吗|ma}?
|
|
Formal
|
Subj + 被 + Agent + 所 + Verb
|
{问题|wèntí} {被|bèi} {专家|zhuānjiā} {所|suǒ} {解决|jiějué}.
|
|
Complex
|
Subj + 被 + Agent + 给 + Verb + Complement
|
{钱|qián} {被|bèi} {他|tā} {给|gěi} {花光|huāguāng} {了|le}.
|
Common Variations
| Form | Usage |
|---|---|
|
叫/让
|
More colloquial, often implies coercion.
|
Meanings
The {被|bèi} construction is used to indicate that the subject of the sentence is the recipient of an action, typically one that is undesirable or negative.
Adversative Passive
Expressing that the subject suffered an unpleasant action.
“{他|tā} {被|bèi} {老师|lǎoshī} {批评|pīpíng} {了|le}.”
“{花瓶|huāpíng} {被|bèi} {风|fēng} {吹倒|chuīdǎo} {了|le}.”
Agentless Passive
Focusing on the result when the actor is irrelevant or unknown.
“{窗户|chuānghu} {被|bèi} {打破|dǎpò} {了|le}.”
“{计划|jìhuà} {被|bèi} {取消|qǔxiāo} {了|le}.”
Formal/Literary Passive
Used in formal writing to maintain objectivity.
“{该|gāi} {项目|xiàngmù} {被|bèi} {专家|zhuānjiā} {一致|yīzhì} {通过|tōngguò}.”
“{法律|fǎlǜ} {被|bèi} {严格|yángé} {执行|zhíxíng}.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
S + 被 + A + V
|
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {雨|yǔ} {淋|lín} {了|le}.
|
|
Negative
|
S + 没 + 被 + A + V
|
{他|tā} {没|méi} {被|bèi} {雨|yǔ} {淋|lín}.
|
|
Question
|
S + 被 + A + V + 吗?
|
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {雨|yǔ} {淋|lín} {了|le} {吗|ma}?
|
|
Agentless
|
S + 被 + V
|
{窗户|chuānghu} {被|bèi} {打破|dǎpò} {了|le}.
|
|
Formal
|
S + 被 + A + 所 + V
|
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {大家|dàjiā} {所|suǒ} {尊敬|zūnjìng}.
|
|
Emphasis
|
S + 被 + A + 给 + V
|
{钱|qián} {被|bèi} {他|tā} {给|gěi} {偷|tōu} {了|le}.
|
Formality Spectrum
{手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {盗|dào} {了|le}. (Reporting a theft)
{手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {偷|tōu} {了|le}. (Reporting a theft)
{手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {人|rén} {顺走|shùnzǒu} {了|le}. (Reporting a theft)
{手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {人|rén} {摸走|mōzǒu} {了|le}. (Reporting a theft)
The Passive Logic
Focus
- 受害者 Victim
Tone
- 负面 Negative
Requirement
- 补语 Complement
Examples by Level
{杯子|bēizi} {被|bèi} {打破|dǎpò} {了|le}.
The cup was broken.
{花|huā} {被|bèi} {弄坏|nònghuài} {了|le}.
The flower was ruined.
{我|wǒ} {被|bèi} {吓|xià} {了|le}.
I was scared.
{门|mén} {被|bèi} {关上|guānshàng} {了|le}.
The door was closed.
{作业|zuòyè} {被|bèi} {老师|lǎoshī} {收走|shōuzǒu} {了|le}.
The homework was collected by the teacher.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {批评|pīpíng} {了|le}.
He was criticized.
{手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {偷|tōu} {了|le}.
The phone was stolen.
{衣服|yīfu} {被|bèi} {雨|yǔ} {淋湿|línshī} {了|le}.
The clothes were soaked by rain.
{计划|jìhuà} {被|bèi} {临时|línshí} {取消|qǔxiāo} {了|le}.
The plan was cancelled last minute.
{路|lù} {被|bèi} {大雪|dàxuě} {封锁|fēngsuǒ} {了|le}.
The road was blocked by heavy snow.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {公司|gōngsī} {解雇|jiěgù} {了|le}.
He was fired by the company.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {问题|wèntí} {被|bèi} {大家|dàjiā} {忽略|hūlüè} {了|le}.
This problem was ignored by everyone.
{该|gāi} {决定|juédìng} {被|bèi} {董事会|dǒngshìhuì} {否决|fǒujué} {了|le}.
The decision was vetoed by the board.
{系统|xìtǒng} {被|bèi} {黑客|hēikè} {攻击|gōngjī} {了|le}.
The system was attacked by hackers.
{这|zhè} {项|xiàng} {研究|yánjiū} {被|bèi} {广泛|guǎngfàn} {引用|yǐnyòng}.
This research is widely cited.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {误解|wùjiě} {了|le}.
He was misunderstood.
{传统|chuántǒng} {文化|wénhuà} {正|zhèng} {被|bèi} {现代|xiàndài} {生活|shēnghuó} {侵蚀|qīnshí}.
Traditional culture is being eroded by modern life.
{该|gāi} {法案|fǎ'àn} {被|bèi} {议会|yìhuì} {驳回|bóhuí} {了|le}.
The bill was rejected by parliament.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {舆论|yúlùn} {推|tuī} {向|xiàng} {了|le} {风口浪尖|fēngkǒulàngjiān}.
He was pushed into the spotlight by public opinion.
{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {观点|guāndiǎn} {被|bèi} {主流|zhǔliú} {学界|xuéjiè} {所|suǒ} {接受|jiēshòu}.
This viewpoint is accepted by the mainstream academic community.
{此|cǐ} {项|xiàng} {政策|zhèngcè} {被|bèi} {视为|shìwéi} {改革|gǎigé} {的|de} {基石|jīshí}.
This policy is regarded as the cornerstone of reform.
{其|qí} {言论|yánlùn} {被|bèi} {外界|wàijiè} {解读|jiědú} {为|wéi} {一种|yīzhǒng} {挑衅|tiǎoxìn}.
His remarks were interpreted by the outside world as a provocation.
{该|gāi} {建筑|jiànzhù} {被|bèi} {列为|lièwéi} {国家|guójiā} {重点|zhòngdiǎn} {保护|bǎohù} {文物|wénwù}.
The building is listed as a key national protected cultural relic.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {命运|mìngyùn} {捉弄|zhuōnòng} {了|le}.
He was toyed with by fate.
Easily Confused
Both involve objects, but one is active and one is passive.
Both are passive markers, but 叫 is more colloquial.
让 can mean 'to let' or 'to make' (passive).
Common Mistakes
{我|wǒ} {被|bèi} {开心|kāixīn}.
{我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {开心|kāixīn}.
{书|shū} {被|bèi} {拿|ná}.
{书|shū} {被|bèi} {拿走|názǒu} {了|le}.
{被|bèi} {我|wǒ} {吃|chī}.
{被|bèi} {我|wǒ} {吃掉|chīdiào} {了|le}.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {爱|ài}.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {人|rén} {爱|ài}.
{被|bèi} {没|méi} {偷|tōu}.
{没|méi} {被|bèi} {偷|tōu}.
{我|wǒ} {被|bèi} {表扬|biǎoyáng} {了|le}.
{我|wǒ} {得到|dédào} {了|le} {表扬|biǎoyáng}.
{被|bèi} {他|tā} {打|dǎ}.
{被|bèi} {他|tā} {打|dǎ} {了|le}.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {被|bèi} {做|zuò}.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {被|bèi} {做完|zuòwán} {了|le}.
{被|bèi} {我|wǒ} {看|kàn}.
{被|bèi} {我|wǒ} {看见|kànjiàn} {了|le}.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {送|sòng}.
{他|tā} {被|bèi} {送走|sòngzǒu} {了|le}.
{被|bèi} {大家|dàjiā} {所|suǒ} {喜欢|xǐhuān}.
{被|bèi} {大家|dàjiā} {喜欢|xǐhuān}.
{被|bèi} {认为|rènwéi} {为|wéi} {好|hǎo}.
{被|bèi} {认为|rènwéi} {是|shì} {好|hǎo}.
{被|bèi} {他|tā} {所|suǒ} {打|dǎ}.
{被|bèi} {他|tā} {打|dǎ} {了|le}.
Sentence Patterns
___ 被 ___ 弄坏了。
___ 被 ___ 批评了。
___ 被 ___ 所忽略。
___ 被 ___ 延误了。
Real World Usage
{我|wǒ} {的|de} {外卖|wàimài} {被|bèi} {偷|tōu} {了|le}!
{该|gāi} {项目|xiàngmù} {被|bèi} {推迟|tuīchí} {了|le}.
{多|duō} {处|chù} {房屋|fángwū} {被|bèi} {洪水|hóngshuǐ} {淹没|yānmò}.
{我|wǒ} {的|de} {行李|xínglǐ} {被|bèi} {弄丢|nòngdiū} {了|le}.
{账户|zhànghù} {被|bèi} {锁定|suǒdìng} {了|le}.
{此|cǐ} {理论|lǐlùn} {被|bèi} {广泛|guǎngfàn} {质疑|zhìyí}.
Check the Verb
No Positive Passive
Formal Passive
Colloquial Alternatives
Smart Tips
Use '被' to focus on the victim.
Use '所' to sound more professional.
Use '被' to emphasize the negative experience.
Omit the agent entirely.
Pronunciation
Tone of Bèi
Bèi is 4th tone (falling). Keep it sharp.
Rhythm
The sentence usually has a pause after the agent.
Complaint
S + bèi + A + V + le! (Falling pitch)
Expressing frustration.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Bèi' as a 'Bad' event. If it's not bad, don't use 'Bèi'!
Visual Association
Imagine a person standing under a rain cloud (the 'Bèi' cloud). The rain is the bad action falling on them.
Rhyme
When things go wrong and you feel blue, use the passive marker Bèi for you.
Story
Xiao Wang was having a bad day. His bike was stolen (被偷了). His homework was lost (被弄丢了). He was criticized by his boss (被批评了). He realized that whenever he uses 'Bèi', he is describing a disaster.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about things that went wrong today using the 'Bèi' structure.
Cultural Notes
Very common in news to report accidents or government actions.
Similar usage, but sometimes '被' is used more loosely in casual speech.
Cantonese uses '畀' (bei2) which is a cognate.
The character '被' originally meant 'quilt' or 'to cover'.
Conversation Starters
{你|nǐ} {今天|jīntiān} {被|bèi} {什么|shénme} {事情|shìqing} {烦|fán} {到|dào} {了|le}?
{你|nǐ} {的|de} {手机|shǒujī} {被|bèi} {人|rén} {偷|tōu} {过|guò} {吗|ma}?
{你|nǐ} {觉得|juéde} {这|zhè} {个|gè} {政策|zhèngcè} {会|huì} {被|bèi} {大众|dàzhòng} {接受|jiēshòu} {吗|ma}?
{如果|rúguǒ} {你|nǐ} {被|bèi} {困|kùn} {在|zài} {电梯|diàntī} {里|lǐ}, {你|nǐ} {会|huì} {怎么|zěnme} {做|zuò}?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
手机 ___ 他拿走了。
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他被没偷。
他拿走了手机。
被 / 老师 / 批评 / 了 / 他
A: 你的钱包呢？ B: ___
Which is most formal?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises手机 ___ 他拿走了。
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他被没偷。
他拿走了手机。
被 / 老师 / 批评 / 了 / 他
A: 你的钱包呢？ B: ___
Which is most formal?
Match: 手机被他拿走了。
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercises他的计划被大家 ___ 了。
打破了 / 窗户 / 被 / 我 / 不小心
My computer was hacked.
Which sentence is more common in daily conversation?
他的手机找到了被警察。
Match the items.
很抱歉，您的航班 ___ 延误了。
他被公司开除了。
他的 / 没收了 / 手机 / 被 / 老师
Choose the right sentence.
我被朋友请客了。
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
No, it is strictly for negative or unfortunate events.
You can omit the agent: '手机被偷了'.
No, '把' is active, '被' is passive.
Chinese passive requires a resultative complement to show the action is finished.
Yes, it is very common in formal and academic writing.
'叫' is more colloquial and often implies coercion.
Put '没' before '被': '没被偷'.
Yes, '让' and '叫' are common in speech.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Ser + participio
Chinese '被' is restricted to negative events.
Être + participe passé
Chinese '被' implies a negative outcome.
Werden + Partizip II
Chinese '被' is not for neutral/positive events.
受身形 (reru/rareru)
Japanese has a wider range of passive uses.
Passive voice conjugation
Chinese uses a particle, Arabic uses morphology.
被 (Bèi)
N/A
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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