Difference between revisions of "Using "bei" sentences"

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{{Grammar Box}} \r\nBei Sentences, which are called 被字句 (bèizìjù) in Chinese, are a key way to express the [[Passive voice|passive]] in modern Mandarin Chinese.  In passive sentences, the ''object'' of an action becomes the subject of the sentence, and what would have been the subject of the normal (active voice) sentence, the "doer" of the action, becomes secondary, and may or may not be included in the passive sentence.\r\n== What they are ==\r\n被 sentences (被字句 in Chinese) are simply sentences which use a [[Passive voice|passive]] verb and the preposition 被.  被 sentences are not the only way to create the passive verb form in Chinese, but they are the most common, and definitely the type to tackle first.\r\nFor the sake of clarity, let's give some examples of the passive in English first:\r\n* The boy '''ate''' the hot dog. <span class="expl">(normal sentence in the active voice; note that "the hot dog" is the object of the verb "ate")</span>
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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Bei Sentences, which are called 被字句 (bèizìjù) in Chinese, are a key way to express the [[Passive voice|passive]] in modern Mandarin Chinese.  In passive sentences, the ''object'' of an action becomes the subject of the sentence, and what would have been the subject of the normal (active voice) sentence, the "doer" of the action, becomes secondary, and may or may not be included in the passive sentence.
 +
 
 +
== What they are ==
 +
 
 +
sentences (被字句 in Chinese) are simply sentences which use a [[Passive voice|passive]] verb and the preposition 被.  被 sentences are not the only way to create the passive verb form in Chinese, but they are the most common, and definitely the type to tackle first.
 +
 
 +
For the sake of clarity, let's give some examples of the passive in English first:
 +
 
 +
* The boy '''ate''' the hot dog. <span class="expl">(normal sentence in the active voice; note that "the hot dog" is the object of the verb "ate")</span>
 
* The hot dog '''was eaten''' by the boy. <span class="expl">(the same sentence in the passive voice; "the hot dog" is now the subject, and "the boy" is the "doer")</span>
 
* The hot dog '''was eaten''' by the boy. <span class="expl">(the same sentence in the passive voice; "the hot dog" is now the subject, and "the boy" is the "doer")</span>
* The hot dog '''was eaten'''. <span class="expl">(also in the passive voice, but with the "doer" omitted)</span>\r\nNow let's see those same sentences in Chinese:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 男孩 吃 了 <strong>热狗</strong> 。<span class="expl">(the original sentence)</span>
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* The hot dog '''was eaten'''. <span class="expl">(also in the passive voice, but with the "doer" omitted)</span>
 +
 
 +
Now let's see those same sentences in Chinese:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 男孩 吃 了 <strong>热狗</strong> 。<span class="expl">(the original sentence)</span>
 
* <strong>热狗</strong> <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 了 。<span class="expl">(the passive sentence)</span>
 
* <strong>热狗</strong> <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 了 。<span class="expl">(the passive sentence)</span>
* <strong>热狗</strong> <em>被</em> 吃 了 。<span class="expl">(the passive sentence, with no "doer")</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== Why use them? ==\r\nPassive sentences are used for several main reasons<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=sinosplice-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide], Section 17.3, "Conditions for using the passive in Mandarin"</ref>:\r\n<ol>
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* <strong>热狗</strong> <em>被</em> 吃 了 。<span class="expl">(the passive sentence, with no "doer")</span>
<li>To indicate that one has been negatively affected.\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* <span class="liju">我 <em>被</em> 开除 了 。</span> <span class="trans">I have been fired.</span>
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* <span class="liju">我的 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃 了 。</span> <span class="trans">My hot dog has been eaten.</span>\r\n</div></li>\r\n<li>To shift emphasis from the "doer" of the action to the one affected by that action.\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我的 老师 肯定 不 会 <em>被</em> 开除 。 <span class="trans">My teacher will definitely not be fired.</span>
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</div>
* 只 有 那些 很 好吃 的 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃掉 。 <span class="trans">Only those really tasty hot dogs were eaten.</span>\r\n</div></li>\r\n<li>To avoid having to mention the "doer" of the action, either because it is unknown, or for other reasons.\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我 <em>被</em> 开除 了 。 <span class="trans">I have been fired (but I'm not saying who fired me, probably because it's obvious).</span>
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* 我的 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃了  。 <span class="trans">My hot dog has been eaten (but I'm not saying who ate it, probably because I don't know).</span>\r\n</div></li>
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== Why use them? ==
</ol>\r\n== How to use them ==\r\nNormal use of 被 has a few preconditions:\r\n# The verb to be used with 被 needs to have an object (this will become the new subject of the 被 sentence).  Verbs that take objects are called ''transitive verbs''.
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Passive sentences are used for several main reasons<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=sinosplice-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide], Section 17.3, "Conditions for using the passive in Mandarin"</ref>:
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 +
<ol>
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<li>To indicate that one has been negatively affected.
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* <span class="liju">我 <em>被</em> 开除 了 。</span> <span class="trans">I have been fired.</span>
 +
* <span class="liju">我的 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃 了 。</span> <span class="trans">My hot dog has been eaten.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div></li>
 +
 
 +
<li>To shift emphasis from the "doer" of the action to the one affected by that action.
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 我的 老师 肯定 不 会 <em>被</em> 开除 。 <span class="trans">My teacher will definitely not be fired.</span>
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* 只 有 那些 很 好吃 的 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃掉 。 <span class="trans">Only those really tasty hot dogs were eaten.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div></li>
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 +
<li>To avoid having to mention the "doer" of the action, either because it is unknown, or for other reasons.
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 我 <em>被</em> 开除 了 。 <span class="trans">I have been fired (but I'm not saying who fired me, probably because it's obvious).</span>
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* 我的 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃了  。 <span class="trans">My hot dog has been eaten (but I'm not saying who ate it, probably because I don't know).</span>
 +
 
 +
</div></li>
 +
</ol>
 +
 
 +
== How to use them ==
 +
 
 +
Normal use of 被 has a few preconditions:
 +
 
 +
# The verb to be used with 被 needs to have an object (this will become the new subject of the 被 sentence).  Verbs that take objects are called ''transitive verbs''.
 
# If you're going to state ''who the verb was done by'' (the "doer"), then the subject doing the original action must be known.
 
# If you're going to state ''who the verb was done by'' (the "doer"), then the subject doing the original action must be known.
# The verb can't be too simple (for example, a one-character verb like 吃).  Put simply, ''something needs to come after the verb''.  That "something" can be a particle, a complement, or sometimes even an additional object.\r\n=== Forming a 被 Sentence ===\r\nLet's use our example above to show how the process works:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 男孩 吃 了 热狗 。<span class="trans">The boy ate the hot dog.</span>\r\n</div>\r\nIn this sentence, "the boy" is the subject.  The verb is 吃, "to eat," but ''it needs something else after it'', which is 了 in this case.  The object is 热狗, "the hot dog."\r\nThis sentence meets all the preconditions.  Now all you need to do is introduce the preposition 被 and move the parts of the sentence around a bit:\r\n# The object is 热狗.  Move that to the front; it's the new subject in the 被 sentence.
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# The verb can't be too simple (for example, a one-character verb like 吃).  Put simply, ''something needs to come after the verb''.  That "something" can be a particle, a complement, or sometimes even an additional object.
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 +
=== Forming a 被 Sentence ===
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 +
Let's use our example above to show how the process works:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 男孩 吃 了 热狗 。<span class="trans">The boy ate the hot dog.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
In this sentence, "the boy" is the subject.  The verb is 吃, "to eat," but ''it needs something else after it'', which is 了 in this case.  The object is 热狗, "the hot dog."
 +
 
 +
This sentence meets all the preconditions.  Now all you need to do is introduce the preposition 被 and move the parts of the sentence around a bit:
 +
 
 +
# The object is 热狗.  Move that to the front; it's the new subject in the 被 sentence.
 
# Add 被 after the subject, then insert what was previously the subject.  (It's now the ''doer''.)
 
# Add 被 after the subject, then insert what was previously the subject.  (It's now the ''doer''.)
# Finish off with the verb phrase 吃了.  (Don't forget to include the part that comes after the verb!)\r\nSo the new 被 sentence is:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 热狗 <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 了 。<span class="trans">The hot dog was eaten by the boy.</span>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase\r\n</div>\r\nHere's a table illustrating the process of converting a regular sentence into a 被 sentence:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:39em"
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# Finish off with the verb phrase 吃了.  (Don't forget to include the part that comes after the verb!)
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 +
So the new 被 sentence is:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 热狗 <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 了 。<span class="trans">The hot dog was eaten by the boy.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
Here's a table illustrating the process of converting a regular sentence into a 被 sentence:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="width:39em"
 
|+Creating a 被 sentence from a normal sentence
 
|+Creating a 被 sentence from a normal sentence
 
|-
 
|-
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|-
 
|-
 
| <strong>热狗</strong> || <em>被</em> || 男孩 || 吃了 || || 。
 
| <strong>热狗</strong> || <em>被</em> || 男孩 || 吃了 || || 。
|}\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 男孩 吃 了 <strong>热狗</strong> 。<span class="expl">(the original sentence)</span>
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|}
* <strong>热狗</strong> <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 了 。<span class="expl">(the passive 被 sentence)</span>\r\n</div>\r\n=== Forming a 被 Sentence with No "Doer" ===\r\nIf we want to, we can also omit the "doer" (男孩) and say:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃 了 。<span class="trans">The hot dog was eaten.</span>\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 被 + Verb Phrase\r\n</div>\r\nLet's take a closer look at how you build this kind of sentence.\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:39em"
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 +
</div>
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 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 男孩 吃 了 <strong>热狗</strong> 。<span class="expl">(the original sentence)</span>
 +
* <strong>热狗</strong> <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 了 。<span class="expl">(the passive 被 sentence)</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Forming a 被 Sentence with No "Doer" ===
 +
 
 +
If we want to, we can also omit the "doer" (男孩) and say:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃 了 。<span class="trans">The hot dog was eaten.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + 被 + Verb Phrase
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
Let's take a closer look at how you build this kind of sentence.
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="width:39em"
 
|+Creating a 被 sentence with no "doer"
 
|+Creating a 被 sentence with no "doer"
 
|-
 
|-
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|-
 
|-
 
| <strong>热狗</strong> || <em>被</em> ||  || 吃了 || || 。
 
| <strong>热狗</strong> || <em>被</em> ||  || 吃了 || || 。
|}\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* <strong>男孩</strong> 吃 了 热狗 。 <span class="expl">(the original sentence)</span>
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|}
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 +
</div>
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 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* <strong>男孩</strong> 吃 了 热狗 。 <span class="expl">(the original sentence)</span>
 
* 热狗 <em>被</em> <strong>男孩</strong> 吃 了 。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence)</span>
 
* 热狗 <em>被</em> <strong>男孩</strong> 吃 了 。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence)</span>
* 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃 了 。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, with no "doer")</span>\r\n</div>\r\n=== Forming a Negative 被 Sentence ===\r\nThere's just one other complication.  What if you want to make a sentence in the ''negative''?  For example, continuing with our wonderful theme, if you wanted to say:\r\n* The hot dog '''was not eaten''' by the boy.\r\nIn this case, the negative adverb 没有 needs to be inserted ''before the 被''<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=sinosplice-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide], Section 17.2, "The passive and negation"</ref>, and the verb still needs something after it, which in this case is 掉. (We're using 掉, which adds a meaning of "totally" to the verb, because you don't use 了 when you use 没有 to negate.) This is what we get:\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 没有 + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:45em"
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* 热狗 <em>被</em> 吃 了 。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, with no "doer")</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
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 +
=== Forming a Negative 被 Sentence ===
 +
 
 +
There's just one other complication.  What if you want to make a sentence in the ''negative''?  For example, continuing with our wonderful theme, if you wanted to say:
 +
 
 +
* The hot dog '''was not eaten''' by the boy.
 +
 
 +
In this case, the negative adverb 没有 needs to be inserted ''before the 被''<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=sinosplice-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide], Section 17.2, "The passive and negation"</ref>, and the verb still needs something after it, which in this case is 掉. (We're using 掉, which adds a meaning of "totally" to the verb, because you don't use 了 when you use 没有 to negate.) This is what we get:
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + 没有 + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="width:45em"
 
|+Creating a negative 被 sentence
 
|+Creating a negative 被 sentence
 
|-
 
|-
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|-
 
|-
 
| 热狗 || <strong>没有</strong> || <em>被</em> ||  ||  || 吃掉 || || 。
 
| 热狗 || <strong>没有</strong> || <em>被</em> ||  ||  || 吃掉 || || 。
|}\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 男孩 <strong>没有</strong> 吃 掉 热狗 。 <span class="expl">(the original sentence, using the negative adverb 没有)</span>
+
|}
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 +
</div>
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 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 男孩 <strong>没有</strong> 吃 掉 热狗 。 <span class="expl">(the original sentence, using the negative adverb 没有)</span>
 
* 热狗 <strong>没有</strong> <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 掉  。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, using the negative adverb 没有)</span>
 
* 热狗 <strong>没有</strong> <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 掉  。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, using the negative adverb 没有)</span>
* 热狗 <strong>没有</strong> <em>被</em> 吃 掉  。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, using the negative adverb 没有, and no "doer")</span>\r\n</div>\r\n=== Adding Adverbs in a 被 Sentence ===\r\nWhat if you want to include adverbs in your 被 sentence?  Where should those go?  They go in the same place as the ''negative'' adverb 没有, above.  (Frequently you'll see the word "adverbial" or "adverbial adjunct" used in this case, because some words in Chinese, such as time words, act like adverbs but are technically nouns.)  In the following example we'll use the adverb 刚, which is used to express that something just recently happened.\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + Adverb + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:45em"
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* 热狗 <strong>没有</strong> <em>被</em> 吃 掉  。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, using the negative adverb 没有, and no "doer")</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Adding Adverbs in a 被 Sentence ===
 +
 
 +
What if you want to include adverbs in your 被 sentence?  Where should those go?  They go in the same place as the ''negative'' adverb 没有, above.  (Frequently you'll see the word "adverbial" or "adverbial adjunct" used in this case, because some words in Chinese, such as time words, act like adverbs but are technically nouns.)  In the following example we'll use the adverb 刚, which is used to express that something just recently happened.
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + Adverb + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="width:45em"
 
|+Creating a negative 被 sentence
 
|+Creating a negative 被 sentence
 
|-
 
|-
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|-
 
|-
 
| 热狗 || <strong>刚</strong> || <em>被</em> ||  ||  || 吃掉 || || 。
 
| 热狗 || <strong>刚</strong> || <em>被</em> ||  ||  || 吃掉 || || 。
|}\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 男孩 <strong>刚</strong> 吃 掉 热狗 。 <span class="expl">(the original sentence, using the adverb 刚)</span>
+
|}
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 男孩 <strong>刚</strong> 吃 掉 热狗 。 <span class="expl">(the original sentence, using the adverb 刚)</span>
 
* 热狗 <strong>刚</strong> <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 掉  。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, using the adverb 刚)</span>
 
* 热狗 <strong>刚</strong> <em>被</em> 男孩 吃 掉  。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, using the adverb 刚)</span>
* 热狗 <strong>刚</strong> <em>被</em> 吃 掉  。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, using the adverb 刚, and no "doer")</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== 被 Sentences with 给 ==\r\nSometimes in 被 sentences the word 给 also appears. [unfinished section]\r\n== Advanced modern usage ==\r\nIn recent years, special uses of 被 have popped up online.  These uses occur with verbs which don't normally ever use 被, in order to emphasize a lack of control over the action, often including some kind of foul play or underlying statistical falsification.<ref>[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2206 Suicided: the adversative passive as a form of active resistance] (Victor Mair on Language Log)</ref><ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_disappearance#Linguistic_considerations Forced disappearance: Linguistic considerations] (Wikipedia)</ref>\r\nExamples include:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* <em>被</em> 和谐 <span class="expl">(to be harmonized)</span>
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* 热狗 <strong>刚</strong> <em>被</em> 吃 掉  。 <span class="expl">(the passive sentence, using the adverb 刚, and no "doer")</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== 被 Sentences with 给 ==
 +
 
 +
Sometimes in 被 sentences the word 给 also appears. [unfinished section]
 +
 
 +
== Advanced modern usage ==
 +
 
 +
In recent years, special uses of 被 have popped up online.  These uses occur with verbs which don't normally ever use 被, in order to emphasize a lack of control over the action, often including some kind of foul play or underlying statistical falsification.<ref>[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2206 Suicided: the adversative passive as a form of active resistance] (Victor Mair on Language Log)</ref><ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_disappearance#Linguistic_considerations Forced disappearance: Linguistic considerations] (Wikipedia)</ref>
 +
 
 +
Examples include:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* <em>被</em> 和谐 <span class="expl">(to be harmonized)</span>
 
* <em>被</em> 自杀 <span class="expl">(to be suicided)</span>
 
* <em>被</em> 自杀 <span class="expl">(to be suicided)</span>
 
* <em>被</em> 毕业 <span class="expl">(to be graduated)</span>
 
* <em>被</em> 毕业 <span class="expl">(to be graduated)</span>
Line 71: Line 259:
 
* <em>被</em> 旅游 <span class="expl">(to be (forced to) travel)</span>
 
* <em>被</em> 旅游 <span class="expl">(to be (forced to) travel)</span>
 
* <em>被</em> 代表 <span class="expl">(to be represented)</span>
 
* <em>被</em> 代表 <span class="expl">(to be represented)</span>
* <em>被</em> 失踪 <span class="expl">(to be disappeared)</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== Other ways to form the passive ==\r\n被 is not the only way to form the passive in Mandarin Chinese.  The prepositions 让 and 叫 are also used in passive constructions, although 被 is more common.  For more information, see [[Causative verbs]].\r\n==See also==
+
* <em>被</em> 失踪 <span class="expl">(to be disappeared)</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== Other ways to form the passive ==
 +
 
 +
is not the only way to form the passive in Mandarin Chinese.  The prepositions 让 and 叫 are also used in passive constructions, although 被 is more common.  For more information, see [[Causative verbs]].
 +
 
 +
==See also==
 
* [[Passive verbs with "shou"]]
 
* [[Passive verbs with "shou"]]
 
* [[Ba sentence]]
 
* [[Ba sentence]]
 
* [[Result complement]]
 
* [[Result complement]]
* [[Direction complement]]\r\n== References ==
+
* [[Direction complement]]
<references/>\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (pp. 470-7) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
+
 
 +
== References ==
 +
<references/>
 +
 
 +
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
 +
=== Books ===
 +
 
 +
* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (pp. 470-7) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
 
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar ]] (pp. 55) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]  
 
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar ]] (pp. 55) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]  
 
* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (pp. 182) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617 →buy]  
 
* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (pp. 182) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617 →buy]  
Line 86: Line 290:
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 239-40) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 239-40) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
 
* [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Threshold Vol. 2 (汉语口语入门篇下)]] (pp. 168-70) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913656/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913656 →buy]
 
* [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Threshold Vol. 2 (汉语口语入门篇下)]] (pp. 168-70) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913656/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913656 →buy]
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)]] (pp. 428-9)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]\r\n=== Websites ===\r\n* ChinesePod (free content): [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/passive-verbs-and-%E8%A2%AB Qing Wen - Passive Verbs and 被]
+
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)]] (pp. 428-9)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
 +
 
 +
=== Websites ===
 +
 
 +
* ChinesePod (free content): [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/passive-verbs-and-%E8%A2%AB Qing Wen - Passive Verbs and 被]
 
* East Asia Student: [http://eastasiastudent.net/2090/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/passive-voice/ Mandarin passive voice: grammar and usage]
 
* East Asia Student: [http://eastasiastudent.net/2090/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/passive-voice/ Mandarin passive voice: grammar and usage]
 
{{Similar|Direction complement}}
 
{{Similar|Direction complement}}

Revision as of 08:56, 26 November 2013

Chinese-grammar-wiki-bei4.jpg

Bei Sentences, which are called 被字句 (bèizìjù) in Chinese, are a key way to express the passive in modern Mandarin Chinese. In passive sentences, the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence, and what would have been the subject of the normal (active voice) sentence, the "doer" of the action, becomes secondary, and may or may not be included in the passive sentence.

What they are

被 sentences (被字句 in Chinese) are simply sentences which use a passive verb and the preposition 被. 被 sentences are not the only way to create the passive verb form in Chinese, but they are the most common, and definitely the type to tackle first.

For the sake of clarity, let's give some examples of the passive in English first:

  • The boy ate the hot dog. (normal sentence in the active voice; note that "the hot dog" is the object of the verb "ate")
  • The hot dog was eaten by the boy. (the same sentence in the passive voice; "the hot dog" is now the subject, and "the boy" is the "doer")
  • The hot dog was eaten. (also in the passive voice, but with the "doer" omitted)

Now let's see those same sentences in Chinese:

  • 男孩 吃 了 热狗(the original sentence)
  • 热狗 男孩 吃 了 。(the passive sentence)
  • 热狗 吃 了 。(the passive sentence, with no "doer")

Why use them?

Passive sentences are used for several main reasons[1]:

  1. To indicate that one has been negatively affected.
    • 开除 了 。 I have been fired.
    • 我的 热狗 吃 了 。 My hot dog has been eaten.
  2. To shift emphasis from the "doer" of the action to the one affected by that action.
    • 我的 老师 肯定 不 会 开除 。 My teacher will definitely not be fired.
    • 只 有 那些 很 好吃 的 热狗 吃掉 。 Only those really tasty hot dogs were eaten.
  3. To avoid having to mention the "doer" of the action, either because it is unknown, or for other reasons.
    • 开除 了 。 I have been fired (but I'm not saying who fired me, probably because it's obvious).
    • 我的 热狗 吃了 。 My hot dog has been eaten (but I'm not saying who ate it, probably because I don't know).

How to use them

Normal use of 被 has a few preconditions:

  1. The verb to be used with 被 needs to have an object (this will become the new subject of the 被 sentence). Verbs that take objects are called transitive verbs.
  2. If you're going to state who the verb was done by (the "doer"), then the subject doing the original action must be known.
  3. The verb can't be too simple (for example, a one-character verb like 吃). Put simply, something needs to come after the verb. That "something" can be a particle, a complement, or sometimes even an additional object.

Forming a 被 Sentence

Let's use our example above to show how the process works:

  • 男孩 吃 了 热狗 。The boy ate the hot dog.

In this sentence, "the boy" is the subject. The verb is 吃, "to eat," but it needs something else after it, which is 了 in this case. The object is 热狗, "the hot dog."

This sentence meets all the preconditions. Now all you need to do is introduce the preposition 被 and move the parts of the sentence around a bit:

  1. The object is 热狗. Move that to the front; it's the new subject in the 被 sentence.
  2. Add 被 after the subject, then insert what was previously the subject. (It's now the doer.)
  3. Finish off with the verb phrase 吃了. (Don't forget to include the part that comes after the verb!)

So the new 被 sentence is:

  • 热狗 男孩 吃 了 。The hot dog was eaten by the boy.

Subject + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase

Here's a table illustrating the process of converting a regular sentence into a 被 sentence:

Creating a 被 sentence from a normal sentence
Subject Verb Phrase Object
男孩 吃了 热狗
Subject Doer Verb Phrase
热狗 男孩 吃了
  • 男孩 吃 了 热狗(the original sentence)
  • 热狗 男孩 吃 了 。(the passive 被 sentence)

Forming a 被 Sentence with No "Doer"

If we want to, we can also omit the "doer" (男孩) and say:

  • 热狗 吃 了 。The hot dog was eaten.

Subject + 被 + Verb Phrase

Let's take a closer look at how you build this kind of sentence.

Creating a 被 sentence with no "doer"
Subject Verb Phrase Object
男孩 吃了 热狗
Subject Doer Verb Phrase
热狗 男孩 吃了
热狗 吃了
  • 男孩 吃 了 热狗 。 (the original sentence)
  • 热狗 男孩 吃 了 。 (the passive sentence)
  • 热狗 吃 了 。 (the passive sentence, with no "doer")

Forming a Negative 被 Sentence

There's just one other complication. What if you want to make a sentence in the negative? For example, continuing with our wonderful theme, if you wanted to say:

  • The hot dog was not eaten by the boy.

In this case, the negative adverb 没有 needs to be inserted before the 被[2], and the verb still needs something after it, which in this case is 掉. (We're using 掉, which adds a meaning of "totally" to the verb, because you don't use 了 when you use 没有 to negate.) This is what we get:

Subject + 没有 + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase

Creating a negative 被 sentence
Subject Negative Verb Phrase Object
男孩 没有 吃掉 热狗
Subject Negative Doer Verb Phrase
热狗 没有 男孩 吃掉
热狗 没有 吃掉
  • 男孩 没有 吃 掉 热狗 。 (the original sentence, using the negative adverb 没有)
  • 热狗 没有 男孩 吃 掉 。 (the passive sentence, using the negative adverb 没有)
  • 热狗 没有 吃 掉 。 (the passive sentence, using the negative adverb 没有, and no "doer")

Adding Adverbs in a 被 Sentence

What if you want to include adverbs in your 被 sentence? Where should those go? They go in the same place as the negative adverb 没有, above. (Frequently you'll see the word "adverbial" or "adverbial adjunct" used in this case, because some words in Chinese, such as time words, act like adverbs but are technically nouns.) In the following example we'll use the adverb 刚, which is used to express that something just recently happened.

Subject + Adverb + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase

Creating a negative 被 sentence
Subject Adverb Verb Phrase Object
男孩 吃掉 热狗
Subject Adverb Doer Verb Phrase
热狗 男孩 吃掉
热狗 吃掉
  • 男孩 吃 掉 热狗 。 (the original sentence, using the adverb 刚)
  • 热狗 男孩 吃 掉 。 (the passive sentence, using the adverb 刚)
  • 热狗 吃 掉 。 (the passive sentence, using the adverb 刚, and no "doer")

被 Sentences with 给

Sometimes in 被 sentences the word 给 also appears. [unfinished section]

Advanced modern usage

In recent years, special uses of 被 have popped up online. These uses occur with verbs which don't normally ever use 被, in order to emphasize a lack of control over the action, often including some kind of foul play or underlying statistical falsification.[3][4]

Examples include:

  • 和谐 (to be harmonized)
  • 自杀 (to be suicided)
  • 毕业 (to be graduated)
  • 就业 (to be employed)
  • 旅游 (to be (forced to) travel)
  • 代表 (to be represented)
  • 失踪 (to be disappeared)

Other ways to form the passive

被 is not the only way to form the passive in Mandarin Chinese. The prepositions 让 and 叫 are also used in passive constructions, although 被 is more common. For more information, see Causative verbs.

See also

References

  1. Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, Section 17.3, "Conditions for using the passive in Mandarin"
  2. Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, Section 17.2, "The passive and negation"
  3. Suicided: the adversative passive as a form of active resistance (Victor Mair on Language Log)
  4. Forced disappearance: Linguistic considerations (Wikipedia)

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites