HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
被: passive sentences
被 puts the thing affected first: 我的手机被弟弟拿走了. Often used for unwanted events.
Structure
- Object + 被 + (doer) + verb + result / 了
How it works
In a 被 sentence, the thing that is affected comes first, then 被, then (optionally) who did it, then the verb: 我的自行车被人借走了.
Like 把, the verb needs something after it: a result, a direction, or 了.
被 sentences often describe something unwelcome. For neutral events, Chinese more often uses an active sentence.
Examples
-
我的手机被弟弟拿走了。
Wǒ de shǒujī bèi dìdi ná zǒu le.
My phone was taken by my younger brother.
-
蛋糕被小猫吃了。
Dàngāo bèi xiǎo māo chī le.
The cake was eaten by the kitten.
-
他的电脑被人借走了。
Tā de diànnǎo bèi rén jiè zǒu le.
His computer was borrowed by someone.
-
我被老师批评了。
Wǒ bèi lǎoshī pīpíng le.
I was criticised by the teacher.
-
那本书已经被卖完了。
Nà běn shū yǐjīng bèi mài wán le.
That book has already sold out.
Words in these examples (24)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone | HSK 1 |
| 被 | bèi | (marks a passive sentence: by) | HSK 3 |
| 弟弟 | dìdi | younger brother | HSK 1 |
| 拿 | ná | to take; to hold; to carry | HSK 2 |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk; to leave | HSK 2 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 蛋糕 | dàngāo | cake | HSK 3 |
| 小 | xiǎo | small; little; young | HSK 1 |
| 猫 | māo | cat | HSK 1 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 电脑 | diànnǎo | computer | HSK 1 |
| 人 | rén | person; people | HSK 1 |
| 借 | jiè | to borrow; to lend | HSK 3 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 |
| 批评 | pīpíng | to criticize; criticism | HSK 4 |
| 那 | nà | that; then | HSK 1 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already | HSK 2 |
| 卖 | mài | to sell | HSK 1 |
| 完 | wán | to finish; to be over | HSK 2 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我的手机被弟弟拿。
✓我的手机被弟弟拿走了。
The verb needs a result or 了.
-
✗弟弟被拿走了我的手机。
✓我的手机被弟弟拿走了。
The affected thing comes first.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我的自行车 人骑走了。
2. 饺子都被他吃 了。
3. 我的书 弟弟拿走了。