被-construction (passive)
The 被 construction is the passive: the subject receives the action instead of doing it. The pattern is subject + 被 + (agent) + verb + result, as in 杯子被他打破了, and the verb needs a result, complement or 了 after it.
Structure: Subject + 被 + (Agent) + Verb + Result
The agent (who did it) is optional — you can omit it if unknown or unimportant:
✅ 我的钱包被偷了。(wallet was stolen — agent unknown)
✅ 我的钱包被小偷偷走了。(wallet was stolen by the thief)
Hard rules:
1. The verb must have a result complement — bare verbs are ungrammatical: ❌ 书被看。
2. 被 is neutral or negative in tone — it usually implies something unwanted happened.
Contrast with 把: 把 = agent actively disposes of object. 被 = subject passively receives action.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 那本书被我不小心弄湿了。 | Nà běn shū bèi wǒ bù xiǎo xīn nòng shī le. | That book was accidentally gotten wet by me. | 被 + agent (我) + V (弄) + result (湿). Result complement 湿 is required. |
| 他被经理批评了一顿。 | Tā bèi jīng lǐ pī píng le yī dùn. | He was criticized by the manager. | 被 + agent (经理) + V (批评) + frequency complement (一顿) |
| 这件事被很多人知道以后，她感到非常难堪。 | Zhè jiàn shì bèi hěn duō rén zhī dào yǐ hòu, tā gǎn dào fēi cháng nán kān. | After this matter became known by many people, she felt very embarrassed. | 被…以后 = after being done by…; 难堪 is the subjective result |
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.
被 (bèi)
Marks the passive; the subject receives the action, and the doer (if named) follows 被.
Structure: subject + 被 + (doer) + verb + result/了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我的手机被朋友借走了。 | Wǒ de shǒu jī bèi péng you jiè zǒu le. | My phone was borrowed by a friend. |
| 他被老师表扬了。 | Tā bèi lǎo shī biǎo yáng le. | He was praised by the teacher. |
| 窗户被风吹开了。 | Chuāng hu bèi fēng chuī kāi le. | The window was blown open by the wind. |
Not: 我的自行车被偷。 The verb after 被 needs a result or 了; say 被偷了 or 被偷走了.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, prepositions (引出施事、受事).
被 is also explained in: Passive Constructions: 被, 叫, 让 (HSK 3) · 把-Sentences & Notional Passive (HSK 5).
让 (ràng)
A spoken passive marker like 被, but the doer must always be named.
Structure: subject + 让 + doer + verb + result/了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我的作业让狗咬坏了。 | Wǒ de zuò yè ràng gǒu yǎo huài le. | My homework got chewed up by the dog. |
| 他让雨淋湿了。 | Tā ràng yǔ lín shī le. | He got soaked by the rain. |
| 蛋糕让弟弟吃光了。 | Dàn gāo ràng dì di chī guāng le. | My brother ate up the cake. |
Not: 蛋糕让吃光了。 With 让 the doer cannot be dropped; only 被 allows 被吃光了。
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, fixed patterns; level 4, prepositions (引出施事、受事).
让 is also explained in: Passive Constructions: 被, 叫, 让 (HSK 3) · Pivot Sentences: 叫/让/请+someone+V (HSK 3) · 使/让/叫 pivot-causative sentences (HSK 4) · Serial Verb & Pivotal Constructions (HSK 5).
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 被-construction (passive) among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
The same pattern at other levels
- Passive Constructions — HSK 3
Questions about 被-construction (passive)
What does 被字句 (被-construction (passive)) mean in Chinese?
The 被 construction is the passive: the subject receives the action instead of doing it. The pattern is subject + 被 + (agent) + verb + result, as in 杯子被他打破了, and the verb needs a result, complement or 了 after it. It is an HSK 4 grammar point.
How do you use 被字句 (被-construction (passive)) in a sentence?
那本书被我不小心弄湿了。 — Nà běn shū bèi wǒ bù xiǎo xīn nòng shī le. — That book was accidentally gotten wet by me. 被 + agent (我) + V (弄) + result (湿). Result complement 湿 is required.
What do you need to know before 被字句 (被-construction (passive))?
把-construction (disposal) (HSK 4), Passive Constructions (HSK 3). 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 被字句 (被-construction (passive)) lead to?
Advanced 把 and Passive Constructions (HSK 6), Key HSK-4 patterns (HSK 4). Each of them names 被字句 (被-construction (passive)) among its own prerequisites.
Where do 不 and 没 go in a 被 sentence?
Before 被: 我的伞没被拿走。 The negative never goes between 被 and the verb.
Does 被 always mean something bad?
It often does, but modern Chinese also uses it for neutral or good things, as in 他被选为班长了。
被-construction (passive) 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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