The passive sentence in Chinese 3

Grammar Point:
In Mandarin Chinese, 給给 gěi can be used in passive voice constructions, either alone or together with 被 bèi. 給给 gěi is colloquial and used in spoken language, while 被 bèi is formal and suitable for written language.

When to Use Passive Sentences

1. When you want to indicate that someone has been negatively affected or the result is unexpected.

包包bāobāo被bèi小偷xiǎotōu偷tōu走zǒu了le包包bāobāo被bèi小偷xiǎotōu偷tōu走zǒu了le
The bag was stolen by a thief.

沒想到méixiǎngdào我wǒ被bèi老師lǎoshī誇獎kuājiǎng了le没想到méixiǎngdào我wǒ被bèi老师lǎoshī夸奖kuājiǎng了le
I didn’t expect to be complimented by my teacher.

2. When you want to avoid mentioning the “doer” of the action.

包包bāobāo被bèi偷tōu走zǒu了le包包bāobāo被bèi偷tōu走zǒu了

Structure

S + 被, 叫, 讓/让+ O + 給/给 + V + Something

When emphasizing the passive voice in Chinese, you can simply add 給给 gěi in the passive sentence. However, it is also acceptable to omit 給给 gěi. Chinese native speakers generally prefer to include it in spoken Chinese.

杯子bēizi被bèi他tā不小心bùxiǎoxīn給gěi摔shuāi碎suì了le杯子bēizi被bèi他tā不小心bùxiǎoxīn给gěi摔shuāi碎suì了le
The cup was accidentally broken by him.

自行車zìxíngchē叫jiào小偷xiǎotōu給gěi偷tōu走zǒu了le自行车zìxíngchē叫jiào小偷儿xiǎotōur给gěi偷tōu走zǒu了le
The bicycle was stolen by thieves.

這zhè件jiàn事shì差點chādiǎn讓ràng我wǒ給gěi忘wàng了le这zhè件jiàn事shì差点儿chàdiǎnr让ràng我wǒ给gěi忘wàng了le
I almost forgot about this one.

我wǒ做zuò的de飯fàn被bèi他tā給gěi倒dào了le我wǒ做zuò的de饭fàn被bèi他tā给gěi倒dào了le
He poured out the meal I made.

他的tāde女朋友nǚpéngyǒu讓ràng弟弟dìdi給gěi搶qiǎng了le他的tāde女朋友nǚpéngyou让ràng弟弟dìdi给gěi抢qiǎng了le
His girlfriend had his younger brother snatch it away.

S + 給/给 + O + V + Something

When it comes to daily conversations, it is common to use 給给 gěi to replace 被 bèi. However, this practice is not commonly seen in written language.

蛋糕dàngāo都dōu給gěi你nǐ吃chī完wán了le蛋糕dàngāo都dōu给gěi你nǐ吃chī完wán了le
All the cakes are eaten up by you.

還好háihǎo杯子bēizi沒méi給gěi你nǐ摔shuāi破pò还好háihǎo杯子bēizi没méi给gěi你nǐ摔shuāi破pò
Good thing you didn’t break the cup.

教室jiàoshì的de燈dēng早zǎo就jiù給gěi關guān上shàng了le教室jiàoshì的de灯dēng早zǎo就jiù给gěi关guān上shang了le
The lights in the classroom were already turned off.

我的wǒde個資gèzī給gěi駭客hàikè盜dào了le我的wǒde个资gèzī给gěi骇客hàikè盗dào了le
My personal information was stolen by hackers.

我的wǒde秘密mìmì給gěi你nǐ知道zhīdào了le， 你nǐ別bié想xiǎng活huó著zhe離開líkāi我的wǒde秘密mìmì给gěi你nǐ知道zhīdào了le， 你nǐ别bié想xiǎng活huó着zhe离开líkāi
You already know my secret, so don’t expect to leave alive.

• The Passive Sentence 1 (HSK 3)

• The Passive Sentence 2 (HSK 4)

• The Passive Sentence 4 (Advanced) (HSK 7-9)