How to form the passive in Chinese with 被 (bèi)
Patient/Object + 被 (bèi) + (Agent) + Verb Phrase
被 (bèi) — passive voice
Patient/Object + 被 (bèi) + (Agent) + Verb Phrase
HSK 3Sentence Patterns被 (bèi) — passive voice
Rule structure
The 被 (bèi) construction shows that something was done to an object. The sentence starts with the affected object, then 被 (bèi), then the person who did the action. Structure: object + 被 (bèi) + who did it + action.
Rule structure
The 被 (bèi) construction shows that something was done to an object. The sentence starts with the affected object, then 被 (bèi), then the person who did the action. Structure: object + 被 (bèi) + who did it + action.
Examples
杯子被我打碎了。
Bēizi bèi wǒ dǎ suì le.
The cup was broken by me.
Examples
杯子被我打碎了。
Bēizi bèi wǒ dǎ suì le.
The cup was broken by me.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say “passive voice” in Chinese with 被?
Use the structure: Patient/Object + 被 (bèi) + (Agent) + Verb Phrase. For example: 杯子被我打碎了。 — “The cup was broken by me.”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
杯子被我打碎了。 — “The cup was broken by me.”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.
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More HSK 3 grammar rules
一 — not even one
一 (yī) + MW + 也 (yě)/都 (dōu) + 没 (méi)/不 (bù) + Verb
越 — the more… the more…
Subj.+越 (yuè)+Verb+越 (yuè) + Adj. / Verb
把 — how to use the 把 sentence
Subj. + 把 (bǎ) + Obj. + Verb
一边 — doing two things at once
一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2
如果…就 — if… then…
如果 (rúguǒ)……,就 (jiù)……
万 — big numbers
Number + 万 (wàn) / 亿 (yì)
地 — turning adjectives into adverbs
Adj. + 地 (de) + Verb
AA — reduplicating adjectives
AA / AABB
