被 (bèi) — The Passive Construction
When the subject receives the action
Category: Grammar
The Rule
被 (bèi) creates passive sentences: Subject + 被 + (Agent) + Verb + Result. The subject is the receiver of the action. Traditionally used for unfortunate events, but modern Chinese uses it more broadly.
Why This Matters
English uses passive voice freely ('The cake was eaten'). Chinese passive with 被 historically carried a negative connotation — something bad happened to the subject. '我的车被偷了' (My car was stolen) is classic 被 usage. Modern Chinese has loosened this rule, especially in formal writing, but the negative undertone persists in speech. English speakers overuse 被 because they're comfortable with passive voice.
Examples
• 我的手机被偷了。(Wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōu le.) — "My phone was stolen." [Classic 被: something bad happened — phone is gone] • 他被老师批评了。(Tā bèi lǎoshī pīpíng le.) — "He was criticized by the teacher." [被 + agent (老师) + verb: negative experience] • 蛋糕被吃完了。(Dàngāo bèi chī wán le.) — "The cake was all eaten." [Slightly unfortunate — the cake you wanted is gone] • 这首歌被很多人喜欢。(Zhè shǒu gē bèi hěn duō rén xǐhuan.) — "This song is liked by many people." [Modern neutral usage — no negative meaning]
Common Mistakes
❌ Overusing 被 for all passive meaning like English ✅ Use active voice when possible: 老师批评了他 (The teacher criticized him) → Chinese prefers active voice much more than English. Only use 被 when: the agent is unknown, you want to emphasize the receiver, or something unfortunate happened. ❌ 被 without a result: 我被看了 (I was looked at) ✅ 我被他看到了。(I was seen by him — result: 到) → Like 把, the verb in 被 sentences usually needs a result complement. 被看 alone feels incomplete. 被看到 (was seen), 被打伤 (was beaten and injured) are complete.
Quick Tip
When something bad happens TO someone/something, that's prime 被 territory. For neutral statements, prefer active voice.
When something bad happens TO someone/something, that's prime 被 territory. For neutral statements, prefer active voice.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: Overusing 被 for all passive meaning like English → Correct: Use active voice when possible: 老师批评了他 (The teacher criticized him). Chinese prefers active voice much more than English. Only use 被 when: the agent is unknown, you want to emphasize the receiver, or something unfortunate happened.
Incorrect: 被 without a result: 我被看了 (I was looked at) → Correct: 我被他看到了。(I was seen by him — result: 到). Like 把, the verb in 被 sentences usually needs a result complement. 被看 alone feels incomplete. 被看到 (was seen), 被打伤 (was beaten and injured) are complete.
Quiz
Which situation is most natural for 被?