Passive sentences (1)
In Chinese, sentences with “被” (bèi) express the passive.
The pattern shows that the subject does not perform the action but undergoes it.
Such sentences often carry a sense of:
passivity;
helplessness;
an unwelcome or negative situation.
Basic Structure
Subject + 被 + doer of the action + Verb + other elements
That is: the subject is on the receiving end of someone's action.
Key Rule
Adverbs and modal verbs come before “被”.
Subject + adverb / modal verb + 被 + ……
The doer of the action after “被” can also be left out.
Examples
这本书被别人借走了。
This book has been borrowed by someone else.
Structure
这本书 + 被 + 别人 + 借走了
this book + 被 + someone else + borrowed and took away
这本书 — this book
被 — the passive marker
别人 — someone else
借走了 — borrowed it and took it away
Here 这本书 does not perform the action — it undergoes it.
水果可能被弟弟吃了。
The fruit may have been eaten by my younger brother.
Structure
水果 + 可能 + 被 + 弟弟 + 吃了
the fruit + probably + 被 + younger brother + ate
水果 — fruit
可能 — maybe / probably
被 — the passive marker
弟弟 — younger brother
吃了 — ate
In this sentence 可能 carries a modal sense and stands before 被.
我们俩经常被叫错名字。
The two of us often get called by the wrong name.
Structure
我们俩 + 经常 + 被 + 叫错名字
the two of us + often + 被 + called by the wrong name
我们俩 — the two of us
经常 — often
被 — the passive marker
叫错名字 — to call by the wrong name
This sentence doesn't say who does it, so the doer after 被 is left out.
Quick Rule
Subject + 被 + doer of the action + Verb + other elements
Meaning: the subject is on the receiving end of an action.
Examples:
这本书被别人借走了。
This book has been borrowed by someone else.
水果可能被弟弟吃了。
The fruit may have been eaten by my younger brother.
我们俩经常被叫错名字。
The two of us often get called by the wrong name.