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被动 (bèi dòng) — (adjective) passive, not proactive; unassertive; (adjective, grammar) passive (voice)

Definition

被动 describes people or situations that are unassertive or under others' control. 消极 focuses more on a negative, inactive attitude (mood, outlook), while 被动 is about lacking initiative or being acted upon.

adjective
passivenot proactiveunassertive(adjective, grammar) passive (voice)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 被动，。
    Tā duì gōng zuò hěn bèi dòng, cóng bù zhǔ dòng.
    He is very passive about work, never proactive.
  • 被动。
    Zhè ge dòng cí zài bèi dòng yǔ tài zhōng yào biàn huà xíng shì.
    This verb changes its form in the passive voice.
  • ，被动。
    Bǐ sài yì kāi shǐ, wǒ men jiù chǔ yú bèi dòng jú miàn.
    Once the game started, we were in a passive position.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

被bèipassive
动dòngaction

被 (passive) qualifies 动 (action), describing action received rather than initiated.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yīclothing
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí被bèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

被 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 皮, which gives the sound.

Open 被 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6LanguagePersonality & Traits

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