被 + 动词（不说谁做的）
something was done, without saying who did it
Structure
受事 + 被 + 动词 + 其他成分
What it means
Says something was done to a person or thing without saying who did it, because the doer is unknown, unimportant or obvious.
How it is built
Thing + 被 + verb + something after it (a result, a place, 了 or an amount): 桌子上的水很快就被拿光了 (The water on the tables was soon all gone). With the doer, as in h3-7: 钱包被人拿了.
When to use it
In everyday talk it is for things that “happen to” someone or something. In news and more formal Chinese it is also used for neutral or good news: 被选为 chosen as, 被称为 called, 被送到 taken to.
Watch out
The verb can’t stand bare: ✗ 水被拿。 ✓ 水被拿光了。 And when nothing has really happened to anyone, leave 被 out (h4-19): ✗ 饭被做好了。 ✓ 饭做好了。
Examples
桌子上的水很快就被拿光了。
The water on the tables was soon all gone.
比赛因为下大雨被推迟了。
The race was put off because of the heavy rain.
李月被选为我们小组的组长。
Li Yue was chosen as our group leader.
这个故事后来被拍成了电影。
The story was later made into a film.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 27: 当志愿者 (Volunteering)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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