被 (bèi) — (preposition) used to mark passive voice, placed before the doer (or directly before the verb if the doer is omitted)
Definition
被 marks the passive voice: placed before the doer (or directly before the verb if the doer is left out). It's the default passive marker — 受 is used in more formal/written or abstract contexts (受欢迎, 受帮助).
preposition
used to mark passive voiceplaced before the doer (or directly before the verb if the doer is omitted)
Easily confused
- 披pīlook-aliketo drape over one’s shoulders; to put on (as a cloak or scarf)
- 背bèisound-aliketo memorize, to recite from memory
- 坡pōlook-alike(noun) slope
- 背bèisound-alike(noun) back (of the body)
- 倍bèisound-alike(classifier) times, -fold (indicates multiplier after a number)
- 备bèisound-aliketo prepare; to equip
Examples
- 被。Tā bèi lǎo shī jiào qù le.He was called away by the teacher.
- 被。Wǒ de shǒu jī bèi dì di shuāi huài le.My phone was broken by my little brother.
- 被。Zhè běn shū bèi ná zǒu le.This book was taken away.
Grammar
Appears in
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