The functions of 把 bǎ 4

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)

• 把 bǎ Part 3 (HSK 5)

Structure

Things + 把 + O + Verb + Something

這zhè雙shuāng鞋xié把bǎ我的wǒde腳jiǎo磨mó破pò了le这zhè双shuāng鞋xié把bǎ我的wǒde脚jiǎo磨mó破pò了le
These shoes have pinched my feet.

外面wàimiàn的de聲音shēngyīn把bǎ我wǒ吵chǎo醒xǐng了le外面wàimiàn的de声音shēngyīn把bǎ我wǒ吵chǎo醒xǐng了le
The sound outside woke me up.

他的tāde行為xíngwéi把bǎ我wǒ氣qì炸zhà了le他的tāde行为xíngwéi把bǎ我wǒ气qì炸zhà了le
His behavior made me so angry.

S + 把 + O + Verb + 得 + Degree

This 得 de is called a “degree complement” (程度補語补语 chéngdù bǔyǔ). It describes the degree or intensity of the verb or adjective.

他tā把bǎ大伙兒dàhuǒr笑xiào得de肚子dùzi疼téng他tā把bǎ大伙儿dàhuǒr笑xiào得de肚子dùzi疼téng
He made the group laugh so hard that their stomachs hurt.

他tā把bǎ爸爸bàba氣qì得de一夜yìyè沒méi睡shuì他tā把bǎ爸爸bàba气qì得de一夜yìyè没méi睡shuì
His father was so angry with him that he did not sleep all night.

孩子háizi把bǎ媽媽māma感動gǎndòng得de流liú下xià眼淚yǎnlèi孩子háizi把bǎ妈妈māma感动gǎndòng得de流liú下xià眼泪yǎnlèi
The child moved the mother to tears.

S + 把 + O₁ + V作 + O₂

Verbs in this structure are limited to: 當作当作 dāngzuò, 看作 kànzuò, 想作 xiǎngzuò, and 認作认作 rènzuò.

我的wǒde狗gǒu把bǎ我wǒ當作dāngzuò媽媽māma了le我的wǒde狗gǒu把bǎ我wǒ当作dāngzuò妈妈māma了le
My dog see me as mom.

你們nǐmen把bǎ這zhè當作dāngzuò自己zìjǐ家jiā， 放fàng輕鬆qīngsōng點diǎn你们nǐmen把bǎ这儿zhèr当作dāngzuò自己zìjǐ家jiā， 放fàng轻松qīngsōng点儿diǎnr
Treat this place as your own home and just relax.

我wǒ一直yìzhí把bǎ我wǒ媽媽māma看作kànzuò朋友péngyǒu， 所以suǒyǐ什麼shénme事shì都dōu會huì跟gēn她tā討論tǎolùn我wǒ一直yìzhí把bǎ我wǒ妈妈māma看作kànzuò朋友péngyou， 所以suǒyǐ什么shénme事shì都dōu会huì跟gēn她tā讨论tǎolùn
I always see my mother as a friend, so I will discuss everything with her.

別bié把bǎ我wǒ想作xiǎngzuò你的nǐde假想敵jiǎxiǎngdí， 我wǒ沒méi要yào跟gēn你nǐ競爭jìngzhēng别bié把bǎ我wǒ想作xiǎngzuò你的nǐde假想敌jiǎxiǎngdí， 我wǒ没méi要yào跟gēn你nǐ竞争jìngzhēng
Don’t take me as your rival. I’m not trying to compete with you.

FYI
In Chinese culture, the concept of “假想敵敌 jiǎxiǎngdí” or “imaginary enemy” has been present in various aspects of life, from military strategy to personal relationships. In traditional Chinese military tactics, the use of “假想敵敌” was common in training soldiers to think critically and anticipate potential enemies’ movements. This approach allowed soldiers to prepare for any scenario and react accordingly.
In modern Chinese society, the idea of an “imaginary enemy” has been used in a different context, such as in personal relationships. In some cases, people might view someone else as a rival or competitor, even if the other person is not intentionally trying to compete with them. In these situations, the person might use the concept of “假想敵敌” to remind themselves not to become overly competitive or view the other person as an adversary.

Practice

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✔️ Your words shattered my dreams.

你的nǐde話huà把bǎ我的wǒde夢想mèngxiǎng毀huǐ了le你的nǐde话huà把bǎ我的wǒde夢想mèngxiǎng毁huǐ了le

✔️ The world has been imagined by me as too idealistic.

我wǒ把bǎ世界shìjiè想像xiǎngxiàng得de太tài美好měihǎo我wǒ把bǎ世界shìjiè想像xiǎngxiàng得de太tài美好měihǎo

✔️ It turns out that you only see me as a money tree.

原來yuánlái你nǐ只zhǐ把bǎ我wǒ當dāng作zuò搖錢樹yáoqiánshù原来yuánlái你nǐ只zhǐ把bǎ我wǒ当dāng作zuò摇钱树yáoqiánshù

• Advanced 把 bǎ Part 5 (HSK 7-9)