被字句 (Bei Sentences): How to Form Passive Voice in Chinese
If you've been learning Chinese for a while, you've probably noticed something interesting: Chinese speakers don't use passive voice as much as English speakers do. But when they do, they use a special structure called 被字句 (bèi zì jù).
In this complete guide, you'll learn exactly when and how to use 被 to form passive sentences in Chinese, understand the difference between 被 and other passive markers, and master this structure for your IGCSE exam.
What Is Passive Voice in Chinese?
In English, we use passive voice to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. For example:
Active: The dog bit the man.
Passive: The man was bitten by the dog.
Chinese works similarly, but uses the character 被 (bèi) to mark passive voice:
Active: 狗咬了那个人。(Gǒu yǎo le nàge rén.) - The dog bit that person.
Passive: 那个人被狗咬了。(Nàge rén bèi gǒu yǎo le.) - That person was bitten by the dog.
💡 Cultural Note:
Chinese speakers prefer active voice in most situations. Passive voice is often used when something unfortunate happens or when the speaker wants to emphasize the receiver of the action.
被字句 Structure
Subject + 被 + (Agent) + Verb + Other Elements
The agent (doer) is optional and can be omitted
With Agent (Doer Mentioned):
我的手机被弟弟摔坏了。
Wǒ de shǒujī bèi dìdi shuāi huài le.
My phone was broken by my younger brother.
这本书被老师拿走了。
Zhè běn shū bèi lǎoshī ná zǒu le.
This book was taken away by the teacher.
他的钱包被小偷偷走了。
Tā de qiánbāo bèi xiǎotōu tōu zǒu le.
His wallet was stolen by a thief.
Without Agent (Doer Not Mentioned):
门被打开了。
Mén bèi dǎkāi le.
The door was opened.
问题被解决了。
Wèntí bèi jiějué le.
The problem was solved.
📝 Structure Breakdown:
- Subject: The receiver of the action (what/who is affected)
- 被: Passive marker
- Agent (optional): The doer of the action
- Verb: The action
- Other elements: Result complements, 了, objects, etc.
When to Use 被
1. Unfortunate or Negative Events
被 is commonly used when something bad or unfortunate happens:
我被骗了。(Wǒ bèi piàn le.) - I was cheated.
他被开除了。(Tā bèi kāichú le.) - He was fired.
我的自行车被偷了。(Wǒ de zìxíngchē bèi tōu le.) - My bicycle was stolen.
2. Emphasizing the Receiver
When you want to emphasize who or what received the action:
这个问题被大家讨论了很久。(Zhège wèntí bèi dàjiā tǎolùn le hěn jiǔ.) - This problem was discussed by everyone for a long time.
这篇文章被很多人转发了。(Zhè piān wénzhāng bèi hěn duō rén zhuǎnfā le.) - This article was shared by many people.
3. Formal or Written Language
被 is more common in formal writing, news reports, and academic texts:
新政策被政府批准了。(Xīn zhèngcè bèi zhèngfǔ pīzhǔn le.) - The new policy was approved by the government.
这个理论被科学家证明了。(Zhège lǐlùn bèi kēxuéjiā zhèngmíng le.) - This theory was proven by scientists.
4. When the Doer Is Unknown or Unimportant
When you don't know who did the action or it doesn't matter:
窗户被打破了。(Chuānghu bèi dǎpò le.) - The window was broken.
信被寄出去了。(Xìn bèi jì chūqù le.) - The letter was sent out.
Common Patterns with 被
被...了 (Completed Action)
The most common pattern, indicating a completed passive action:
作业被我做完了。(Zuòyè bèi wǒ zuò wán le.) - The homework was finished by me.
饭被他吃光了。(Fàn bèi tā chī guāng le.) - The food was eaten up by him.
被...给 (Emphasis)
Adding 给 after 被 adds emphasis, often with a sense of frustration:
我的计划被他给破坏了。(Wǒ de jìhuà bèi tā gěi pòhuài le.) - My plan was ruined by him.
这件事被你给忘了。(Zhè jiàn shì bèi nǐ gěi wàng le.) - This matter was forgotten by you.
被 + Verb + Result Complement
Often used with result complements to show the outcome:
杯子被打碎了。(Bēizi bèi dǎsuì le.) - The cup was broken into pieces.
门被锁住了。(Mén bèi suǒ zhù le.) - The door was locked.
被 vs 让/叫/给: Different Passive Markers
Besides 被, Chinese has other passive markers: 让 (ràng), 叫 (jiào), and 给 (gěi). Here's when to use each:
| Marker | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 被 | Formal, written, negative events | 我被骗了。(I was cheated.) |
| 让 | Casual, spoken, neutral tone | 我让他骗了。(I was cheated by him.) |
| 叫 | Casual, spoken, similar to 让 | 我叫他骗了。(I was cheated by him.) |
| 给 | Regional (Northern China), casual | 我给他骗了。(I was cheated by him.) |
💡 Quick Tip:
For IGCSE exams, focus on mastering 被 as it's the most formal and widely accepted. 让 and 叫 are good to recognize but less critical for written exams.
Practice Exercises
Transform these active sentences into passive sentences using 被:
1. 老师批评了他。(The teacher criticized him.)
Answer: 他被老师批评了。
2. 妈妈做完了晚饭。(Mom finished making dinner.)
Answer: 晚饭被妈妈做完了。
3. 风吹走了我的帽子。(The wind blew away my hat.)
Answer: 我的帽子被风吹走了。
4. 大家选了他当班长。(Everyone elected him as class monitor.)
Answer: 他被大家选当班长了。
5. 雨淋湿了我的衣服。(The rain soaked my clothes.)
Answer: 我的衣服被雨淋湿了。
6. 小偷偷走了我的钱包。(A thief stole my wallet.)
Answer: 我的钱包被小偷偷走了。
7. 他打破了花瓶。(He broke the vase.)
Answer: 花瓶被他打破了。
8. 医生治好了他的病。(The doctor cured his illness.)
Answer: 他的病被医生治好了。
9. 大家解决了这个问题。(Everyone solved this problem.)
Answer: 这个问题被大家解决了。
10. 老板开除了他。(The boss fired him.)
Answer: 他被老板开除了。
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Mistake 1: Forgetting 了 or Result Complement
Wrong: 我的手机被弟弟摔。
Right: 我的手机被弟弟摔坏了。
被 sentences usually need 了 or a result complement to show completion.
❌ Mistake 2: Using 被 for Positive Events
Awkward: 我被老师表扬了。(I was praised by the teacher.)
Better: 老师表扬了我。(The teacher praised me.)
While grammatically correct, 被 sounds unnatural for positive events. Use active voice instead.
❌ Mistake 3: Wrong Word Order
Wrong: 被我的手机弟弟摔坏了。
Right: 我的手机被弟弟摔坏了。
Remember: Subject (receiver) + 被 + Agent (doer) + Verb
IGCSE Exam Tips
Paper 3 (Speaking): Use 被 for Describing Unfortunate Events
When describing problems or accidents, using 被 makes you sound more natural and advanced.
Paper 4 (Writing): Show Range with Passive Voice
Including 1-2 被 sentences in your essay demonstrates grammatical range and can boost your score.
Don't Overuse 被
Native speakers prefer active voice. Use 被 strategically, not in every sentence.
Common Exam Scenarios for 被
Lost items, broken objects, being criticized, things being stolen - these are perfect for 被 sentences.
Ready to Master More Chinese Grammar?
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