The functions of 把 bǎ 3

Grammar Point:
There are 3 functions of 把 bǎ in Chinese. Determination, command, and doing a movement on something that makes a change to it.

If you’re not familiar with the basic foundation of 把 structure, I suggest reading the following articles first.

• 把 bǎ Part 1 (HSK 3)

• 把 bǎ Part 2 (HSK 4)

Structure 1

The following structures are all about doing a movement on something that makes a change to it.

In previous articles, it was mentioned that something is always needed after the verb in 把 bǎ structure. However, we will now learn about two exceptions to this rule.

S + 把 + O + Something + Verb

他tā總是zǒngshì把bǎ東西dōngxī到處dàochù亂luàn扔rēng他tā总是zǒngshì把bǎ东西dōngxi到处dàochù乱luàn扔rēng
He always throws things around.

下雨xiàyǔ了le， 他tā趕緊gǎnjǐn把bǎ外面wàimiàn的de衣服yīfú往wǎng回huí收shōu下雨xiàyǔ了le， 他tā赶紧gǎnjǐn把bǎ外面wàimian的de衣服yīfu往wǎng回huí收shōu
It’s raining! He rushed to get the outside clothes back.

S + 把 + O + 一 + Verb

This structure comes from the 一…，就… structure, which means “as soon as.”

他tā把bǎ東西dōngxī一yí放fàng， 轉zhuǎn身shēn就jiù走zǒu了le他tā把bǎ东西dōngxi一yí放fàng， 转zhuǎn身shēn就jiù走zǒu了le
As soon as he put his things away, he turned around and left.

老師lǎoshī把bǎ門mén一yì關guān， 就jiù開始kāishǐ上課shàngkè了le老师lǎoshī把bǎ门mén一yì关guān， 就jiù开始kāishǐ上课shàngkè了le
As soon as the teacher closed the door, the class began.

S + 把 + O₁ + Verb + O₂

This structure is less commonly used in Taiwan.

他tā把bǎ身上shēnshàng的de錢qián交jiāo了le學費xuéfèi他tā把bǎ身上shēnshang的de钱qián交jiāo了le学费xuéfèi
He handed over the money he had on him for tuition.

我wǒ父母fùmǔ把bǎ存款cúnkuǎn買mǎi了le房fáng我wǒ父母fùmǔ把bǎ存款cúnkuǎn买mǎi了le房fáng
My parents bought a house with their savings.

Structure 2

S + 把 + O₁ + Verb + 成 + O₂

This sentence structure means that you turn O₁ into O₂, and it can be divided into three parts.

Real Action

妹妹mèimei把bǎ火雞huǒjī切qiē成chéng了le12 份fèn妹妹mèimei把bǎ火鸡huǒjī切qiē成chéng了le12 份fèn
My sister cut the turkey into 12 portions.

我wǒ把bǎ中文zhōngwén文法wénfǎ分fēn成chéng了le六liù級jí我wǒ把bǎ中文zhōngwén语法yǔfǎ分fēn成chéng了le六liù级jí
I divided the Chinese grammar into six levels.

我wǒ還hái把bǎ我的wǒde中文zhōngwén知識zhīshì做zuò成chéng了le影片yǐngpiàn我wǒ还hái把bǎ我的wǒde中文zhōngwén知识zhīshi做zuò成chéng了le视频shìpín
I also made my Chinese knowledge into videos.

Abstract Verb

我wǒ要yào把bǎ這個zhège房間fángjiān當dāng成chéng我的wǒde工作室gōngzuòshì我wǒ要yào把bǎ这个zhège房间fángjiān当dāng成chéng我的wǒde工作室gōngzuòshì
I want to use this room as my studio.

你nǐ可以kěyǐ把bǎ這個zhègePDF 檔dǎng轉zhuǎn成chéngWord 檔dǎng嗎ma？ 你nǐ可以kěyǐ把bǎ这个zhèigePDF 档dàng转zhuǎn成chéngWord 档dàng吗ma？
Can you convert this PDF file into a Word file?

Mistaken Perception

This structure is used to describe situations where something is mistaken for something else, which can be due to mishearing, misspelling, or visual similarity. O₁ represents the real thing, while O₂ represents what it is mistaken for.

我wǒ把bǎ你的nǐde聲音shēngyīn聽tīng成chéng你nǐ媽媽māma的de聲音shēngyīn我wǒ把bǎ你的nǐde声音shēngyīn听tīng成chéng你nǐ妈妈māma的de声音shēngyīn
I misheard your voice as your mother’s voice.

媽媽māma把bǎkitchen 說shuō成chéngchicken 妈妈māma把bǎkitchen 说shuō成chéngchicken
Mom accidentally said kitchen as chicken.

你nǐ把bǎ「 天tiān」 寫xiě成chéng「 夫fū」 了le你nǐ把bǎ“ 天tiān” 写xiě成chéng“ 夫fū” 了le
You miswrote “heaven” as “husband.”

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ As soon as you press the advertisement, I will have money.

你nǐ把bǎ廣告guǎnggào一yí按àn， 我wǒ就jiù有yǒu錢qián了le你nǐ把bǎ广告guǎnggào一yí按àn， 我wǒ就jiù有yǒu钱qián了le

✔️ I have decided to make advertisements as my source of income.

我wǒ決定juédìng要yào把bǎ廣告guǎnggào當dāng成chéng我的wǒde收入shōurù我wǒ决定juédìng要yào把bǎ广告guǎnggào当dāng成chéng我的wǒde收入shōurù

✔️ Happy for nothing! I see ad spend as ad revenue.

白bái高興gāoxīng了le！ 我wǒ把bǎ廣告guǎnggào花費huāfèi看kàn成chéng廣告guǎnggào收入shōurù白bái高兴gāoxīng了le！ 我wǒ把bǎ广告guǎnggào花费huāfèi看kàn成chéng广告guǎnggào收入shōurù

• 把 bǎ Part 4 (HSK 6)

• Advanced 把 bǎ Part 5 (HSK 7-9)