The 被 sentence is one of the most important and unique sentence patterns in Chinese language; it is regarded as one of the most complicated grammar structures by many Mandarin learners. To English speakers, 被 sentences resemble English passive voice.
This comparison has both advantages and disadvantages.
The similarity between 被 sentence structure and English passive voice helps English speakers to understand the structure and meaning of 被 sentences easily. However, because there are many rules about 被 sentences, it is also easy to make mistakes.
Therefore, learning and understanding the important differences between 被 sentences and English passive voice will be the best way to grasp this special Chinese sentence pattern.
被 Sentence Structure
被 sentences express passive voice in Chinese. The doer of an action is introduced by 被. The recipient of the verb is the subject of a 被 sentence, and the doer of the verb becomes the object.
The 被 sentence structure is:
Recipient + 被 + (doer) + verb.
Examples:
他被很多人尊敬。
He is respected by many people.
她想信她的新书会被读者喜欢。
She believes her new book will be liked by readers.
杰克被他爸爸打过。
Jack has been beaten by his father.
垃圾被我扔掉了。
The garbage was thrown away by me.
If the doer is unknown or unnecessary to point out in a 被 sentence, just place 被 directly before the verb.
Examples:
她被吓着了。
She was scared (by something).
牛奶被喝光了。
The milk was all drank (by someone).
我的钱包被偷了。
My wallet was stolen (by someone).
Special notes on using 被 sentences
1. The verb has to be transitive
A 被 sentence expresses that somebody or something gets a certain result under the influence of an action, so any verb that cannot be followed by an object (intransitive verbs), cannot be used in a 被 sentence either.
For example, some intransitive verbs that cannot be used in a 被 sentence:
去（go），来（come），swim (游泳)，睡觉（sleep）, 跳（jump） etc. ...
2. In oral Chinese, 被 can be replaced by 叫，让，or 给
BUT, “叫” and “让”, MUST be followed by a doer.
For example ( 叫 or 让 ):
The cup was broken by me.
杯子叫我打碎了。(correct)
杯子叫打碎了。（incorrect）
The room was cleaned by the maid.
房间让阿姨打扫干净了。(correct)
房间让打扫干净了。（incorrect）
给 isn’t restricted by this rule (just like 被).
For example ( 给 ):
I was awakened by him.
我给他吵醒了。（correct）
我给吵醒了。（correct）
3. In an affirmative 被 sentence,
if a verb is in past or perfect tense, this verb cannot be used alone; it must be followed by an auxiliary word which indicates completion, such as 了or 过.
For example:
Yesterday, my computer was stolen.
昨天，我的电脑被偷了。（correct）
昨天，我的电脑被偷。（incorrect）
He has been criticized by his boss.
他被老板批评过。（correct）
他被老板批评。（incorrect）
4. Negative form of 被 sentence:
a. If the verb is in present tense or future tense, place 不 before 被.
For example:
他在公司不被尊敬。
He is not respected in this company.
他不会再被父母骂了。
He won’t be scolded by his parents any more.
b. If the verb is in past tense, place 没有 or 没 before 被 (the auxiliary word 了 can not be used any more).
For example:
昨天，我的手机没有被偷。
Yesterday, my mobile wasn’t stolen.
他没被老师批评。
He was not criticized by his teacher.
c. If the verb is in perfect tense, place 没有or 没 before 被 ( 过 should be kept).
For example:
这个房间没有被打扫过。
This room hasn’t been cleaned.
我的电脑没被别人碰过。
My computer hasn’t been touched by others.
I hope these instructions and examples give you a clear understanding of how to understand and use 被 sentences. If you need any further examples or explanations, leave your comments in the discussion!
Image by Schristia (CC BY 2.0)
