Definition
被 (bèi) is the standard preposition for passive voice, placed before the doer or directly before the verb if the doer is omitted. Unlike 受 (shòu), which is a verb used before verbs in more formal contexts (e.g., 受欢迎 'to be popular'), 被 is the everyday passive marker. 挨 (ái) is a verb for enduring negative experiences (e.g., 挨打 'to be beaten'), not a general passive marker.
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)
- 北běisound-alikenorth
- 备bèisound-aliketo prepare; to equip
- 碑bēisound-alikestele; stone tablet; monument
Examples
- 被。Tā bèi lǎoshī jiào qù le.He was called away by the teacher.
- 被。Wǒ de shǒujī bèi dìdi 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
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