Difference between revisions of "Advanced uses of "ba""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}
 
{{Grammar Box}}
 
 
{{AKA|把字句 ("bǎ"zìjù)|把 construction|preposition 把|disposal construction|pre-transitive 把}}
 
{{AKA|把字句 ("bǎ"zìjù)|把 construction|preposition 把|disposal construction|pre-transitive 把}}
 
 
Once you've gotten the hang of the basic [["Ba" sentence|'''把 (bǎ) sentence''']] pattern, you can start to use it in some more complex and abstract ways.
 
Once you've gotten the hang of the basic [["Ba" sentence|'''把 (bǎ) sentence''']] pattern, you can start to use it in some more complex and abstract ways.
  
 
== Using 把 with 给 ==
 
== Using 把 with 给 ==
  
This [[给]] is used in oral Chinese to add emphasis to the verb. The 给 is actually fully optional, but it's good to be familiar with this pattern because it's so commonly used in spoken Chinese.
+
This [[给]] is used in oral Chinese to add emphasis to the verb. The 给 is actually fully optional, but it's good to be familiar with this pattern because it's so commonly used in spoken Chinese. You'll notice a structural similarity to this 给 used with 把, and the [[Expressing passive voice with "gei"|给 used with 被]].
 
 
You'll notice a structural similarity to this 给 used with 把, and the [[Expressing passive voice with "gei"|给 used with 被]].
 
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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* 他 <em>把</em> 我家 <em>当作</em> 了 他 自己 家 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǎ</em> wǒ jiā <em>dàng zuò</em> le tā zìjǐ jiā.</span><span class="trans">He treated my house like his own.</span>
 
* 他 <em>把</em> 我家 <em>当作</em> 了 他 自己 家 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǎ</em> wǒ jiā <em>dàng zuò</em> le tā zìjǐ jiā.</span><span class="trans">He treated my house like his own.</span>
 
* 很 多 留学生 都 <em>把</em> 自己 的 中文 老师 <em>当作</em> 朋友。<span class="pinyin">Hěn duō liúxuéshēng dōu <em>bǎ</em> zìjǐ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī <em>dàng zuò</em> péngyou.</span><span class="trans">Many foreign students treat their Chinese teachers as their friends.</span>
 
* 很 多 留学生 都 <em>把</em> 自己 的 中文 老师 <em>当作</em> 朋友。<span class="pinyin">Hěn duō liúxuéshēng dōu <em>bǎ</em> zìjǐ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī <em>dàng zuò</em> péngyou.</span><span class="trans">Many foreign students treat their Chinese teachers as their friends.</span>
* 孩子 可以 <em>把</em> 家里 的 很 多 小 东西 <em>当作</em> 玩具。<span class="pinyin">Háizǐ kěyǐ <em>bǎ</em> jiālǐ de hěn duō xiǎo dōngxi <em>dàng zuò</em> wánjù.</span><span class="trans">Kids can take small things in the house and treat them as as toys.</span>
+
* 孩子 可以 <em>把</em> 家里 的 很 多 小 东西 <em>当作</em> 玩具。<span class="pinyin">Háizǐ kěyǐ <em>bǎ</em> jiā li de hěn duō xiǎo dōngxi <em>dàng zuò</em> wánjù.</span><span class="trans">Kids can take small things in the house and treat them as as toys.</span>
* 有的 中国 女生 会 <em>把</em> 喜欢 <em>当成</em> 爱 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒu de Zhōngguó nǚshēng huì <em>bǎ</em> xǐhuan <em>dàng chéng</em> ài.</span><span class="trans">Some Chinese girls treat liking someone like loving someone.</span>
 
 
* 很 多 子女 <em>把</em> 父母 的 理想 <em>当作</em>了 自己 的 理想。<span class="pinyin">Hěn duō zǐnǚ <em>bǎ</em> fùmǔ de lǐxiǎng <em>dàng zuò</em> le zìjǐ de lǐxiǎng.</span><span class="trans">Many kids make their parents' ideals their own ideals.</span>
 
* 很 多 子女 <em>把</em> 父母 的 理想 <em>当作</em>了 自己 的 理想。<span class="pinyin">Hěn duō zǐnǚ <em>bǎ</em> fùmǔ de lǐxiǎng <em>dàng zuò</em> le zìjǐ de lǐxiǎng.</span><span class="trans">Many kids make their parents' ideals their own ideals.</span>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 他 从来 不 <em>把</em> 老板 的 话 <em>当 回事</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā cónglái bù <em>bǎ</em> lǎobǎn dehuà <em>dāng huíshì</em>.</span><span class="trans">He never takes what his boss says seriously.</span>
+
* 他 从来 不 <em>把</em> 老板 的 话 <em>当 回事</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā cónglái bù <em>bǎ</em> lǎobǎn de huà <em>dāng huíshì</em>.</span><span class="trans">He never takes what his boss says seriously.</span>
* 你 这个 人 总是 太 <em>把</em> 自己 <em>当 回事</em> 了。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhè ge rén zǒng shì tài <em>bǎ</em> zìjǐ <em>dāng huíshì</em> le.</span><span class="trans">You always take yourself way too seriously.</span>
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* 你 这个 人 总是 太 <em>把</em> 自己 <em>当 回事</em> 了。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhè ge rén zǒngshì tài <em>bǎ</em> zìjǐ <em>dāng huíshì</em> le.</span><span class="trans">You always take yourself way too seriously.</span>
* 有的 父母 从 不 <em>把</em> 孩子 的 一些 小 问题 <em>当 回事</em>!<span class="pinyin">Yǒu de fùmǔ cóng bù <em>bǎ</em> háizi de yīxiē xiǎo wèntí <em>dāng huíshì</em>!</span> <span class="trans"> Some parents never take their kids' minor problems seriously.</span>
+
* 有的 父母 从 不 <em>把</em> 孩子 的 一些 小 问题 <em>当 回事</em>!<span class="pinyin">Yǒu de fùmǔ cóngbù <em>bǎ</em> háizi de yīxiē xiǎo wèntí <em>dāng huíshì</em>!</span> <span class="trans"> Some parents never take their kids' minor problems seriously.</span>
 
* 我们 班 有 几 个 学生 从来 不<em>把</em> 老师 的 作业 <em>当 回事</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen bān yǒu jǐ gè xuéshēng cónglái bù <em>bǎ</em> lǎoshī de zuòyè <em>dāng huíshì</em>.</span><span class="trans"> Our class has a few students who never take the teacher's homework seriously.</span>
 
* 我们 班 有 几 个 学生 从来 不<em>把</em> 老师 的 作业 <em>当 回事</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen bān yǒu jǐ gè xuéshēng cónglái bù <em>bǎ</em> lǎoshī de zuòyè <em>dāng huíshì</em>.</span><span class="trans"> Our class has a few students who never take the teacher's homework seriously.</span>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 请 你 <em>把</em> 这个 蛋糕 <em>切 成</em>六块。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ <em>bǎ</em> zhè ge dàngāo <em>qiē chéng</em> liù kuài.</span><span class="trans">Please cut the cake into six parts.</span>
+
* 请 你 <em>把</em> 这个 蛋糕 <em>切 成</em>六块。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ <em>bǎ</em> zhège dàngāo <em>qiē chéng</em> liù kuài.</span><span class="trans">Please cut the cake into six parts.</span>
 
* 我 知道 怎么 <em>把</em> 图片 <em>做 成</em>视频。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhīdào zěnme <em>bǎ</em> túpiàn <em>zuò chéng</em> shìpín.</span><span class="trans">I know how to make this picture into a video.</span>
 
* 我 知道 怎么 <em>把</em> 图片 <em>做 成</em>视频。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhīdào zěnme <em>bǎ</em> túpiàn <em>zuò chéng</em> shìpín.</span><span class="trans">I know how to make this picture into a video.</span>
 
* 老师 <em>把</em> 全班 同学 <em>分 成</em>了 三个 小组。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī <em>bǎ</em> quán bān tóngxué <em>fēn chéng</em> le sān gè xiǎozǔ.</span><span class="trans">The teacher divided the whole class of students up into three groups.</span>
 
* 老师 <em>把</em> 全班 同学 <em>分 成</em>了 三个 小组。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī <em>bǎ</em> quán bān tóngxué <em>fēn chéng</em> le sān gè xiǎozǔ.</span><span class="trans">The teacher divided the whole class of students up into three groups.</span>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我 每个 月 都 要 <em>把</em> 这些 美元 <em>换 成</em>人民币。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ měi gè yuè dōu yào <em>bǎ</em> zhèxiē Měiyuán <em>huàn chéng</em> rénmínbì.</span><span class="trans">Every month, I have to convert this USD into RMB.</span>
+
* 我 每个 月 都 要 <em>把</em> 这些 美元 <em>换 成</em>人民币。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ měi gè yuè dōu yào <em>bǎ</em> zhèxiē Měiyuán <em>huàn chéng</em> Rénmínbì.</span><span class="trans">Every month, I have to convert this USD into RMB.</span>
* 他 <em>把</em> 自己 的 家 <em>成</em> 了 他的 工作室。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǎ</em> zìjǐ de jiā <em>huàn chéng</em> le tā de gōngzuò shì.</span><span class="trans">She converted her house into her workspace.</span>
+
* 他 <em>把</em> 自己 的 家 <em>成</em> 了 他的 工作室。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǎ</em> zìjǐ de jiā <em>gǎi chéng</em> le tā de gōngzuò shì.</span><span class="trans">She converted her house into her workspace.</span>
 
* 你 能 <em>把</em> 这个 文件 的 格式 <em>转 成</em> PDF 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng <em>bǎ</em> zhè ge wénjiàn de géshì <em>zhuǎn chéng</em> PDF ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you convert this file format into a PDF?</span>
 
* 你 能 <em>把</em> 这个 文件 的 格式 <em>转 成</em> PDF 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng <em>bǎ</em> zhè ge wénjiàn de géshì <em>zhuǎn chéng</em> PDF ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you convert this file format into a PDF?</span>
* 韩国 政府 <em>把</em> “汉城” <em>改成</em>了 “首尔”。<span class="pinyin"> Hánguó zhèngfǔ <em>bǎ</em> “Hanchéng” <em>gǎi chéng</em> le “Shǒu'ěr”.</span><span class="trans">The South Korean government changed the capital name from "Hanseong" to "Seoul."</span>
+
* 韩国 政府 <em>把</em> “汉城” <em>改 成</em>了 “首尔”。<span class="pinyin"> Hánguó zhèngfǔ <em>bǎ</em> “Hanchéng” <em>gǎi chéng</em> le “Shǒu'ěr”.</span><span class="trans">The South Korean government changed the capital name from "Hanseong" to "Seoul."</span>
 
* 请 你 <em>把</em> 这些 句子 <em>翻译 成</em> 中文 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ <em>bǎ</em> zhèxiē jùzi <em>fānyì chéng</em> Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">Please translate these sentences into Chinese.</span>
 
* 请 你 <em>把</em> 这些 句子 <em>翻译 成</em> 中文 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ <em>bǎ</em> zhèxiē jùzi <em>fānyì chéng</em> Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">Please translate these sentences into Chinese.</span>
 
</div>
 
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* 他 <em>把</em> “太“ <em>看 成</em> 了 “大”。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bā</em> “tài” <em>kàn chéng</em> le “dà”.</span><span class="trans">He misread 太 as 大.</span>
 
* 他 <em>把</em> “太“ <em>看 成</em> 了 “大”。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bā</em> “tài” <em>kàn chéng</em> le “dà”.</span><span class="trans">He misread 太 as 大.</span>
 
* 你 刚才 <em>把</em> “政府” <em>读 成</em> 了 “丈夫” 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ gāngcái <em>bǎ</em> "zhèngfǔ" <em>dú chéng</em> le "zhàngfu".</span><span class="trans">Just now you misread "zhèngfǔ" as "zhàngfu".</span>
 
* 你 刚才 <em>把</em> “政府” <em>读 成</em> 了 “丈夫” 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ gāngcái <em>bǎ</em> "zhèngfǔ" <em>dú chéng</em> le "zhàngfu".</span><span class="trans">Just now you misread "zhèngfǔ" as "zhàngfu".</span>
* 我 常常 <em>把</em> “自己” 的 “己” <em>写成</em> “已经” 的 “已”。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ chángcháng <em>bǎ</em> "zìjǐ" de "jǐ" <em>xiě chéng</em> "yǐjīng" de "yǐ".</span><span class="trans">I often write the 己 in 自己 like the 已 in 已经.</span>
+
* 我 常常 <em>把</em> “自己” 的 “己” <em>写 成</em> “已经” 的 “已”。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ chángcháng <em>bǎ</em> "zìjǐ" de "jǐ" <em>xiě chéng</em> "yǐjīng" de "yǐ".</span><span class="trans">I often write the 己 in 自己 like the 已 in 已经.</span>
* 你 是 不 是 <em>把</em> “派对” <em>听成</em> 了 “排队”?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì bu shì <em>bǎ</em> "pàiduì" <em>tīng chéng</em> le "páiduì"?</span><span class="trans">Did you mishear "party" as "wait in line"?</span>
+
* 你 是 不 是 <em>把</em> “派对” <em>听 成</em> 了 “排队”?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì bu shì <em>bǎ</em> "pàiduì" <em>tīng chéng</em> le "páiduì"?</span><span class="trans">Did you mishear "party" as "wait in line"?</span>
* 对不起,我 <em>把</em> 早上 的 面试 <em>记成</em> 了 下午 。<span class="pinyin">Duìbùqǐ, wǒ <em>bǎ</em> zǎoshang de miànshì <em>jì chéng</em> le xiàwǔ.</span><span class="trans">Sorry, I wrote the morning interview down for this afternoon.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Latest revision as of 04:01, 18 January 2021

Also known as: 把字句 ("bǎ"zìjù), 把 construction, preposition 把, disposal construction and pre-transitive 把.

Once you've gotten the hang of the basic 把 (bǎ) sentence pattern, you can start to use it in some more complex and abstract ways.

Using 把 with 给

This is used in oral Chinese to add emphasis to the verb. The 给 is actually fully optional, but it's good to be familiar with this pattern because it's so commonly used in spoken Chinese. You'll notice a structural similarity to this 给 used with 把, and the 给 used with 被.

Structure

Subj. + 把 + Obj. + 给 + Verb Phrase

Examples

  • 这 事儿 忘 了 。 zhè shì er gěi wàng le.I forgot about this matter.
  • 周末 我 脏 衣服 洗 了 。Zhōumò wǒ zāng yīfu gěi xǐ le.On weekends, I wash the dirty clothes.
  • 你 能 这些 都 记住 吗?Nǐ néng zhè xiē dōu gěi jì zhù ma?Will you be able to memorize all of this?
  • 我的 手机 摔坏 了 。 wǒ de shǒujī gěi shuāi huài le.He dropped my phone and broke it.
  • 妈妈 没用 的 东西 都 扔了 。Māma méiyòng de dōngxi dōu gěi rēng le.Mom threw away all of the useless stuff.


Using 当作 and 看作

When you want to say that something is treated as something else, use this pattern.

Structure

+ Obj.+ 当成 / 看成 / 当作 / 看作 +⋯⋯

So what's the difference between using 当成 / 看成 / 当作 / 看作? Good question. The differences are not huge, but there are a few:

  1. The 成 versions are a bit less formal than the 作 versions.
  2. 看成 / 看作 is often followed by a person or specific thing, whereas 当成 / 当作 is more likely to be followed by something more abstract (like 爱).
  3. The 成 / 作 part of 当成 / 当作 can be dropped in spoken Chinese, whereas the 成 / 作 part of 看成 / 看作 can never be dropped.

Examples

  • 我 一直 看作 我 哥哥。Wǒ yīzhí kàn zuò wǒ gēge.I have always seen him as my older brother.
  • 我家 当作 了 他 自己 家 。 wǒ jiā dàng zuò le tā zìjǐ jiā.He treated my house like his own.
  • 很 多 留学生 都 自己 的 中文 老师 当作 朋友。Hěn duō liúxuéshēng dōu zìjǐ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī dàng zuò péngyou.Many foreign students treat their Chinese teachers as their friends.
  • 孩子 可以 家里 的 很 多 小 东西 当作 玩具。Háizǐ kěyǐ jiā li de hěn duō xiǎo dōngxi dàng zuò wánjù.Kids can take small things in the house and treat them as as toys.
  • 很 多 子女 父母 的 理想 当作了 自己 的 理想。Hěn duō zǐnǚ fùmǔ de lǐxiǎng dàng zuò le zìjǐ de lǐxiǎng.Many kids make their parents' ideals their own ideals.

Take Things Seriously with 当回事

当回事 is mostly used in colloquial Chinese. It means to take something seriously or to hold something in high regard. It is usually used with the negative 不.

Structure

(别 / 不)把 + Obj. + 当回事

  • 他 从来 不 老板 的 话 当 回事Tā cónglái bù lǎobǎn de huà dāng huíshì.He never takes what his boss says seriously.
  • 你 这个 人 总是 太 自己 当 回事 了。Nǐ zhè ge rén zǒngshì tài zìjǐ dāng huíshì le.You always take yourself way too seriously.
  • 有的 父母 从 不 孩子 的 一些 小 问题 当 回事!Yǒu de fùmǔ cóngbù háizi de yīxiē xiǎo wèntí dāng huíshì! Some parents never take their kids' minor problems seriously.
  • 我们 班 有 几 个 学生 从来 不 老师 的 作业 当 回事Wǒmen bān yǒu jǐ gè xuéshēng cónglái bù lǎoshī de zuòyè dāng huíshì. Our class has a few students who never take the teacher's homework seriously.

Using 把 with a verb + 成

In this case, 成 can be translated as "into."

Structure

把 + Obj. 1 + Verb + 成 + Obj. 2

Concrete Verb Examples

In the first example, we are using concrete verbs such as 切, 做, 分, etc. on Obj. 1. Naturally, the resulting Obj. 2 should also be concrete.

  • 请 你 这个 蛋糕 切 成六块。Qǐng nǐ zhège dàngāo qiē chéng liù kuài.Please cut the cake into six parts.
  • 我 知道 怎么 图片 做 成视频。Wǒ zhīdào zěnme túpiàn zuò chéng shìpín.I know how to make this picture into a video.
  • 老师 全班 同学 分 成了 三个 小组。Lǎoshī quán bān tóngxué fēn chéng le sān gè xiǎozǔ.The teacher divided the whole class of students up into three groups.

Abstract Verb Examples

In the example below, we are dealing with more abstract objects and verbs. These verbs include 换, 变, 改, 看, 当, 转, etc.

  • 我 每个 月 都 要 这些 美元 换 成人民币。Wǒ měi gè yuè dōu yào zhèxiē Měiyuán huàn chéng Rénmínbì.Every month, I have to convert this USD into RMB.
  • 自己 的 家 改 成 了 他的 工作室。 zìjǐ de jiā gǎi chéng le tā de gōngzuò shì.She converted her house into her workspace.
  • 你 能 这个 文件 的 格式 转 成 PDF 吗?Nǐ néng zhè ge wénjiàn de géshì zhuǎn chéng PDF ma?Can you convert this file format into a PDF?
  • 韩国 政府 “汉城” 改 成了 “首尔”。 Hánguó zhèngfǔ “Hanchéng” gǎi chéng le “Shǒu'ěr”.The South Korean government changed the capital name from "Hanseong" to "Seoul."
  • 请 你 这些 句子 翻译 成 中文 。Qǐng nǐ zhèxiē jùzi fānyì chéng Zhōngwén.Please translate these sentences into Chinese.

Mistaken Perception Examples

The example below is when somebody mistakes something for something else. This can be either mishearing, misspelling, seeing something as something else, etc. These verbs include 看, 听, 写, 记, etc.

把 + Obj. 1 + Perception Verb + 成 + Obj. 2

So Obj. 1 is the actual thing, and Obj. 2 is what it is mistaken for.

  • “太“ 看 成 了 “大”。 “tài” kàn chéng le “dà”.He misread 太 as 大.
  • 你 刚才 “政府” 读 成 了 “丈夫” 。Nǐ gāngcái "zhèngfǔ" dú chéng le "zhàngfu".Just now you misread "zhèngfǔ" as "zhàngfu".
  • 我 常常 “自己” 的 “己” 写 成 “已经” 的 “已”。Wǒ chángcháng "zìjǐ" de "jǐ" xiě chéng "yǐjīng" de "yǐ".I often write the 己 in 自己 like the 已 in 已经.
  • 你 是 不 是 “派对” 听 成 了 “排队”?Nǐ shì bu shì "pàiduì" tīng chéng le "páiduì"?Did you mishear "party" as "wait in line"?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

HSK5