Passive Voice 被
English explains the Mandarin passive using 被 (bèi) and shows when to use it for emphasis or consequence.
被
被 (bèi) marks the agent that causes an unwanted or notable action and turns the sentence into a passive highlight.
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Usage
Use 被 (bèi) when the action harms, inconveniences, or matters to mention, and when you want to name or imply the agent.
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Structure
The basic structure is: 被 (bèi) + agent (optional) + verb + result or comment, with the affected noun as the subject.
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Alternatives
For neutral or helpful passives, use 叫 (jiào), 让 (ràng), or 损失 (sǔnshī) instead of 被 (bèi), or turn to 害 (hài) for damage.
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Examples
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌪️ 吹倒的树挡住了路。 | Chuī dǎo de shù dǎng zhù le lù. | The tree blown down blocked the road. | Natural passive with result. |
| 🚧 路被倒树挡住了。 | Lù bèi dǎo shù dǎng zhù le. | The road was blocked by the fallen tree. | 被 passive with agent. |
| 🌧️ 大雨让路上水很深。 | Dàyǔ ràng lù shàng shuǐ hěn shēn. | The heavy rain made the water on the road very deep. | Causative with 让. |
| 🧑🌾 人清理了倒树。 | Rén qīnglǐ le dǎo shù. | Someone cleared the fallen tree. | Active voice. |
Summary
被 (bèi) signals a marked passive where the action, often negative, affects the subject and the agent can be shown or left out.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025