This lesson introduces the passive voice construction in Chinese, primarily using the preposition 被 (bèi).
Basic Structure: Recipient + 被 (+ Agent) + Verb + Other elements (e.g., 了, resultative complement).
This structure indicates that the recipient of the action is "done something to" by the agent.
Example: 我的钱包被偷了。 (Wǒ de qiánbāo bèi tōu le. - My wallet was stolen.)
Example: 他被老师批评了。 (Tā bèi lǎoshī pīpíng le. - He was criticized by the teacher.)
Omission of Agent: The agent (the doer of the action) can be omitted if it's unknown, unimportant, or obvious.
Example: 杯子被打破了。 (Bēizi bèi dǎpò le. - The cup was broken.)
Alternatives "叫 (jiào)" and "让 (ràng)": In colloquial Chinese, "叫" or "让" can sometimes be used instead of "被" to indicate the passive voice. When "叫" or "让" are used in this way, the agent is usually specified.
Example: 我的自行车叫人骑走了。 (Wǒ de zìxíngchē jiào rén qí zǒu le. - My bicycle was ridden away by someone.)
Nuance of "被": The "被" construction often carries a negative connotation, implying that the recipient has suffered something unpleasant, unfortunate, or undesirable. It is less commonly used for positive or neutral events, where the active voice is often preferred.
Compared to the English passive voice, the Chinese "被" passive is used less frequently and often implies adversity. Understanding this nuance is important for appropriate usage.