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被 [2025/08/11 10:12] – created xiaoer被 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== bèi: 被 - The Passive Voice Marker ("by") ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** bei, bèi, 被, Chinese passive voice, how to use bei in Chinese, what does bei mean, Chinese grammar passive, sentence with bei, by in Chinese, passive structure, HSK 3 grammar. +
-  * **Summary:** Learn to use "被" (bèi), the essential character for forming the passive voice in Mandarin Chinese. While it directly translates to "by," its usage is nuanced. This guide explains how "被" is used to describe events where the subject is acted upon, often with a negative or unfortunate connotation, distinguishing it from the more neutral passive voice in English. Master the "被" structure to express experiences like having your wallet stolen, being criticized, or being affected by an external force, and understand its evolving use in modern and online Chinese. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bèi +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Preposition / Coverb / Particle +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** A grammatical particle used to indicate the passive voice, introducing the agent of an action (similar to "by" in English). +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** `被` is your key to flipping a sentence around. Instead of saying "Someone stole my bike," you can say "My bike **被** (bèi) stolen." It puts the focus on the thing that received the action. Crucially, in Chinese, this structure usually implies the event was unfortunate, unwanted, or out of the subject's control. Think of it as the "unfortunate things happened to me" particle. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **被 (bèi):** This character is a combination of two parts: +
-    * **衤(yī):** The "clothing" radical on the left. +
-    * **皮 (pí):** The character for "skin" or "leather" on the right. +
-  * The original meaning of `被` was a quilt or a blanket—something that *covers* you. This physical meaning of "being covered" evolved into the grammatical meaning of "being acted upon" or "being subjected to" an action. Just as a blanket covers you, an action can "cover" or happen to a person or object. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-  * In Chinese culture and communication, there is a strong preference for the active voice. People generally describe who did what directly. The use of the passive voice with `被` is therefore a deliberate choice that carries specific weight. +
-  * **Implicit Negativity:** Traditionally, `被` is reserved for negative, unfortunate, or undesirable events. It frames the subject as a victim or a passive recipient of a bad outcome. Saying "My cake **was eaten**" (`我的蛋糕被吃了`) isn't just a neutral statement of fact; it implies, "Someone ate my cake, and I'm not happy about it!" or "My cake is gone, unfortunately." +
-  * **Comparison to Western Culture:** In English, the passive voice is a common tool for formal, academic, or professional writing to sound objective ("The decision was made..."). Using `被` this way in casual Chinese can sound overly dramatic or like you're complaining. While this neutral usage exists in very formal Chinese, for a beginner, it's safest to associate `被` with negative situations. This reflects a cultural tendency to not dwell on being a victim unless it's a significant event. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-  * **The Classic Negative Usage:** This is the most common and important use. It's used for anything from minor inconveniences to major disasters. +
-    * Getting caught in the rain (`被雨淋了 - bèi yǔ lín le`) +
-    * Being criticized by the boss (`被老板批评了 - bèi lǎobǎn pīpíng le`) +
-    * Getting cheated (`被骗了 - bèi piàn le`) +
-  * **Neutral/Formal Usage:** In news reports, legal documents, or scientific papers, `被` can be used neutrally to describe a process or event objectively. +
-    * `他被选为代表。` (Tā bèi xuǎn wéi dàibiǎo.) - He was elected as the representative. +
-    * `这座桥梁被成功地修建了。` (Zhè zuò qiáoliáng bèi chénggōng de xiūjiàn le.) - This bridge was successfully constructed. +
-  * **Modern & Online Slang:** Younger generations sometimes use `被` humorously with positive verbs, creating a sense of being "forced" into a good situation. This is informal and often sarcastic. +
-    * `我被涨薪了。` (Wǒ bèi zhǎng xīn le.) - "I got a raise" (literally, "I was salary-increased," as if it happened to me against my will). +
-    * `被表扬了，好开心！` (Bèi biǎoyáng le, hǎo kāixīn!) - "I was praised, so happy!" (said with a hint of playful surprise). +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 我的钱包**被**偷了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ de qiánbāo **bèi** tōu le. +
-    * English: My wallet was stolen. +
-    * Analysis: This is the most classic `被` sentence. The agent (the thief) is not mentioned, but the unfortunate event is the focus. The `了 (le)` indicates the action is complete. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 他的作业**被**老师批评了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā de zuòyè **bèi** lǎoshī pīpíng le. +
-    * English: His homework was criticized by the teacher. +
-    * Analysis: Here, the agent (`老师` - teacher) is included. The structure is: `Receiver + 被 + Agent + Verb + 了`. This clearly highlights the negative action (criticism) and who did it. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 这个蛋糕**被**谁吃了？ +
-    * Pinyin: Zhège dàngāo **bèi** shéi chī le? +
-    * English: Who was this cake eaten by? / Who ate this cake? +
-    * Analysis: `被` can be used in questions to ask about the agent of an action. The tone implies something happened that shouldn't have. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 我们都**被**这部电影感动了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu **bèi** zhè bù diànyǐng gǎndòng le. +
-    * English: We were all moved by this movie. +
-    * Analysis: This shows that the "negative" connotation can also mean being strongly emotionally affected. Being "moved" is an overwhelming, passive experience, so `被` fits perfectly. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 如果你不努力，就**会**被别人超过。 +
-    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù nǔlì, jiù huì **bèi** biérén chāoguò. +
-    * English: If you don't work hard, you will be surpassed by others. +
-    * Analysis: This is a common warning or piece of advice. Being "surpassed" is seen as a negative outcome, making `被` the natural choice. `会 (huì)` indicates future possibility. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 窗户**被**风吹开了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Chuānghu **bèi** fēng chuī kāi le. +
-    * English: The window was blown open by the wind. +
-    * Analysis: The agent doesn't have to be a person. It can be a natural force like the wind (`风`). The event is unexpected and out of anyone's control. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 他因为迟到**被**公司开除了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi chídào **bèi** gōngsī kāichú le. +
-    * English: He was fired by the company because he was late. +
-    * Analysis: This shows a clear cause-and-effect with a serious negative consequence (`开除` - to fire/expel). +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 这个问题**被**认为是会议的重点。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhège wèntí **bèi** rènwéi shì huìyì de zhòngdiǎn. +
-    * English: This issue is considered to be the focus of the meeting. +
-    * Analysis: An example of a more neutral, formal usage. "To be considered" (`被认为`) is a common passive phrase in written or formal Chinese. The agent ("by people") is implied and omitted. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 我昨天出门没带伞，**被**大雨淋湿了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ zuótiān chūmén méi dài sǎn, **bèi** dàyǔ lín shī le. +
-    * English: I went out without an umbrella yesterday and was drenched by the heavy rain. +
-    * Analysis: A common everyday complaint. `淋湿 (lín shī)` means to be drenched. `被` perfectly captures the feeling of being an unlucky victim of the weather. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 听说他**被**一所好大学录取了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tīngshuō tā **bèi** yī suǒ hǎo dàxué lùqǔ le. +
-    * English: I heard he was accepted by a good university. +
-    * Analysis: While getting into a good university is positive, the verb `录取 (lùqǔ - to admit/accept)` is an action done *by the university* to the student. In this context, `被` is used neutrally to describe the student as the recipient of the university's decision. This usage is common in formal announcements. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **Mistake 1: Overusing `被` for all passive sentences.** +
-    * English speakers often translate "The door was opened" to "门被开了 (Mén bèi kāi le)." While grammatically correct, it implies it was opened unexpectedly or against your wishes. It's often more natural to say "门开了 (Mén kāi le - The door opened)" or use the active voice: "他把门打开了 (Tā bǎ mén dǎkāi le - He opened the door)." +
-    * **Rule of thumb:** Don't use `被` unless you want to emphasize that the subject was negatively affected, had no control, or if it's a very formal context. +
-  * **Mistake 2: Using `被` for positive events in casual conversation.** +
-    * **Incorrect:** `我被我的朋友邀请了。` (Wǒ bèi wǒ de péngyou yāoqǐng le.) +
-    * **Why it's wrong:** This literally means "I was invited by my friend," but it sounds like you were forced or are complaining about it. It sounds very strange. +
-    * **Correct:** `我的朋友邀请我了。` (Wǒ de péngyou yāoqǐng wǒ le.) - "My friend invited me." (Active voice is much more natural and positive). +
-  * **Mistake 3: Forgetting that the object of a `被` sentence is the grammatical subject.** +
-    * The thing that receives the action must come *before* `被`. +
-    * **Incorrect:** `小偷被偷了我的钱包。` (Xiǎotōu bèi tōu le wǒ de qiánbāo.) +
-    * **Correct:** `我的钱包被小偷偷了。` (Wǒ de qiánbāo bèi xiǎotōu tōu le.) - "My wallet was stolen by the thief." +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * `[[叫]]` (jiào) - An informal, spoken alternative to `被`, common in Northern China. It carries the same negative connotation. Example: `我的手机叫他弄坏了。` (My phone was broken by him.) +
-  * `[[让]]` (ràng) - Another informal, spoken alternative to `被`, also meaning "to let" or "to allow." It also implies a negative outcome. Example: `衣服让他弄脏了。` (The clothes were made dirty by him.) +
-  * `[[给]]` (gěi) - Can sometimes be used informally in place of `被`, especially in the structure `...给...了`. Example: `杯子给摔了。` (The cup was dropped/smashed.) +
-  * `[[把]]` (bǎ) - The `把` structure is the "opposite" of `被`. It moves the object to before the verb to show what the subject *did to* the object (`Subject + 把 + Object + Verb`). It's an active voice structure, often contrasted with the passive `被` structure. +
-  * `[[受]]` (shòu) - A verb meaning "to receive," "to accept," or "to suffer." It often appears in passive-like phrases but is a verb itself, not a grammatical marker like `被`. Common phrases include `受到影响` (shòudào yǐngxiǎng - to be influenced) and `受到欢迎` (shòudào huānyíng - to be welcomed).+