被 bèi — by (passive marker)
bèi (fourth tone, falling)bei4
by (passive marker)
HSK 3· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 3· Three-band, nine-level standardpreposition
Meanings
by (passive marker)
Makes the subject the thing something was done to: 我的手机被他拿走了. The doer may be left out — 手机被拿走了 — but the verb still needs a result or 了 after it, exactly as in a 把 sentence.
preposition
Example sentences
- 我的手机被弟弟拿走了。我的手機被弟弟拿走了。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) shǒujī (third tone, dipping) bèi (fourth tone, falling) dìdi (fourth tone, falling) ná (second tone, rising) zǒu (third tone, dipping) le. (neutral tone)···
My little brother went off with my phone.
- 那本书已经被人借走了。那本書已經被人借走了。Nà (fourth tone, falling) běn (third tone, dipping) shū (first tone, high and level) yǐjīng (third tone, dipping) bèi (fourth tone, falling) rén (second tone, rising) jiè (fourth tone, falling) zǒu (third tone, dipping) le. (neutral tone)···
That book has already been borrowed by someone.
Common mistakes
Not quite我被这本书看完了。
Correct我把这本书看完了。
把 and 被 point in opposite directions. With 把 the subject is the doer and the thing acted on follows; with 被 the subject *is* the thing acted on. You read the book, so 把 is the right marker.
Not quite钱被他拿。
Correct钱被他拿走了。
A 被 sentence reports a completed effect, so the verb cannot end the sentence bare. Add a direction, a result or 了 — 拿走了, 用完了, 找到了.