被 · 叫 · 让
something is done to the subject, usually something unwelcome
Structure
东西／人 + 被 （+ 谁） + 动词 + 结果／了 · 东西／人 + 叫／让 + 谁 + 动词 + 结果／了
What it means
The passive: the subject is the thing or person something was done to, usually something unwelcome such as being taken, caught or broken.
How it is built
Thing + 被 (+ doer) + verb + result／了: 我的自行车被人骑走了 (someone has gone off on my bike). It is 把 (h3-6) turned round: 他把手机拿走了 → 手机被他拿走了.
When to use it
被 is mostly for bad news; for neutral or good news an ordinary sentence sounds more natural. 叫 and 让 are more spoken. After 被 you may drop the doer (他被抓住了); after 叫／让 you must say who: 蛋糕让弟弟吃光了.
Watch out
The verb needs something after it: ✗ 手机被人拿。 ✓ 手机被人拿了。 For “it didn’t happen”, put 没 before 被: ✗ 手机被人没拿走。 ✓ 手机没被人拿走。
Examples
我的自行车被人骑走了。
Someone has gone off on my bike.
那个男人被抓住了。
The man has been caught.
蛋糕让弟弟吃光了。
My little brother has eaten all the cake.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 7: 手机被人拿走了 (A stolen phone)
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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