Agent Prepositions: 将、由
将 (jiāng) and 由 (yóu) are two formal prepositions that introduce who or what is acted on, or who does the work. 将 is the written form of 把 and moves the object before the verb, while 由 names the person or unit responsible.
In English
This point covers two formal prepositions. 将 is the written form of 把: it moves the object before the verb, as in 请将意见写在表格上, and you find it in notices, reports and news. 由 introduces the person or unit responsible for an action, as in 这次活动由学生会负责组织.
Do not treat 由 as a passive marker. It says who should do the job, while 被 says what happened to the subject. In daily speech people prefer 把, so use 将 when the register is formal.
将 (jiāng) = 书面语中'把'的正式说法，用于处置结构：将 + 宾语 + 动词 + 结果，多见于公文、通知、新闻。
✅ 请将您的意见写在这张表格上。(=把意见写在表格上，但更正式)
由 (yóu) = 引出负责/执行某事的人或单位，说明'这件事该谁来做'：由 + 责任人/单位 + 动词(负责/主持/决定/承担)。
✅ 这次活动由学生会负责组织。
对比：由 不是被动句——它主动指明'谁来做'；被 则说明主语'被谁做了什么'。将 多用于正式/书面场合，日常口语更常用把。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 请将您的意见写在这张表格上，以便我们及时处理。 | Qǐng jiāng nín de yì jiàn xiě zài zhè zhāng biǎo gé shàng, yǐ biàn wǒ men jí shí chǔ lǐ. | Please write your comments on this form so we can handle them promptly. | 将 + object (您的意见) + verb (写) + result (在表格上) — the formal written equivalent of 把. |
| 这次会议由张经理主持，大家有问题可以直接问他。 | Zhè cì huì yì yóu Zhāng jīng lǐ zhǔ chí, dà jiā yǒu wèn tí kě yǐ zhí jiē wèn tā. | This meeting will be chaired by Manager Zhang; ask him directly if you have questions. | 由 + agent (张经理) + verb (主持) names who is responsible for carrying out the action. |
| 这个方案将由专家委员会重新讨论并决定。 | Zhè ge fāng àn jiāng yóu zhuān jiā wěi yuán huì chóng xīn tǎo lùn bìng jué dìng. | This proposal will be re-discussed and decided by the expert committee. | 将由 combines future-tense 将 (will) with agent-marking 由 — a common formal-register pairing in official statements. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
将 (jiāng)
A formal, written word that does the job of 把, moving the object in front of the verb.
Structure: 将 + object + verb + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 请将手机调成静音，谢谢合作。 | Qǐng jiāng shǒu jī diào chéng jìng yīn, xiè xiè hé zuò. | Please set your phone to silent. Thank you for your cooperation. |
| 工作人员将所有文件整理好后交给了经理。 | Gōng zuò rén yuán jiāng suǒ yǒu wén jiàn zhěng lǐ hǎo hòu jiāo gěi le jīng lǐ. | The staff put all the files in order and handed them to the manager. |
| 他将多年的积蓄全部捐给了家乡的学校。 | Tā jiāng duō nián de jī xù quán bù juān gěi le jiā xiāng de xué xiào. | He donated all his savings of many years to the school in his hometown. |
Not: 他将这本书看。 Like 把, 将 needs more after the verb than a bare verb. Add a result: 他将这本书看完了。
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (时间副词); level 4, prepositions (引出施事、受事).
由 (yóu)
Names the person or unit that is responsible for doing something.
Structure: 由 + person or unit + verb (负责, 主持, 承担)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 明天的会场由我们班负责布置。 | Míng tiān de huì chǎng yóu wǒ men bān fù zé bù zhì. | Our class is in charge of setting up the venue tomorrow. |
| 这笔费用由公司承担，你不用付钱。 | Zhè bǐ fèi yòng yóu gōng sī chéng dān, nǐ bú yòng fù qián. | The company pays this cost, so you do not need to pay. |
| 下一个问题由谁来回答比较合适？ | Xià yí gè wèn tí yóu shuí lái huí dá bǐ jiào hé shì? | Who would be the right person to answer the next question? |
Not: 杯子由他打破了。 由 says who is responsible for a task, not who did something to an object. For that, use 被: 杯子被他打破了。
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, prepositions (引出施事、受事); level 4, prepositions (引出时间、处所).
由 is also explained in: Prepositions of Time & Place: 自从, 由, 从…起 (HSK 3).
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Agent Prepositions among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Agent Prepositions
What does 引出施受介词 (Agent Prepositions) mean in Chinese?
将 (jiāng) and 由 (yóu) are two formal prepositions that introduce who or what is acted on, or who does the work. 将 is the written form of 把 and moves the object before the verb, while 由 names the person or unit responsible. It is an HSK 5 grammar point.
How do you use 引出施受介词 (Agent Prepositions) in a sentence?
请将您的意见写在这张表格上，以便我们及时处理。 — Qǐng jiāng nín de yì jiàn xiě zài zhè zhāng biǎo gé shàng, yǐ biàn wǒ men jí shí chǔ lǐ. — Please write your comments on this form so we can handle them promptly. 将 + object (您的意见) + verb (写) + result (在表格上) — the formal written equivalent of 把.
What do you need to know before 引出施受介词 (Agent Prepositions)?
把-construction (disposal) (HSK 4). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 引出施受介词 (Agent Prepositions) lead to?
Prepositions of Purpose, Exclusion and Basis (HSK 6). Each of them names 引出施受介词 (Agent Prepositions) among its own prerequisites.
Is 将 the same as 把?
Almost. 将 is the formal, written version of 把, so you see it in notices and news. In speech people say 把: 请把门关上。 Both need an object in front of the verb and something after the verb.
Does 由 mean the same as 被?
No. 由 points at who is responsible for a job: 这件事由他负责。 被 marks the passive and says what happened to the subject: 钱包被他拿走了。
Agent Prepositions is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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