給 gěi给 gěi plays two different roles here:as a booster added into an existing 被 bèi被 bèi/叫 jiào叫 jiào/讓 ràng让 ràng sentence, or as a stand-in that replaces 被 bèi被 bèi altogether. Either way, it always sits directly in front of the verb — never anywhere else.
1 Formal vs. Casual
給 gěi给 gěi is colloquial and belongs in spoken language. 被 bèi被 bèi, by contrast, is the formal, written-appropriate choice. The two aren’t interchangeable in every context — a news article or a formal essay will stick with 被 bèi被 bèi alone.
2 Structure
(1) Subject + 被 bèi被 bèi / 叫 jiào叫 jiào / 讓 ràng让 ràng + Object + 給 gěi给 gěi + Verb + Other Elements
Here 給 gěi给 gěi is added right before the verb, on top of an ordinary 被 bèi被 bèi/叫 jiào叫 jiào/讓 ràng让 ràng sentence, purely for emphasis. Leaving it out doesn’t change the meaning — it’s just less colloquial.
杯子被他不小心給摔碎了杯子被他不小心给摔碎了
The cup was accidentally broken by him.
自行車叫小偷給偷走了自行车叫小偷儿给偷走了
The bicycle was stolen by a thief.
這件事差點讓我給忘了这件事差点儿让我给忘了
I almost forgot about this. (差點 chàdiǎn差点儿 chàdiǎnr — an adverb — still goes before 讓 ràng让 ràng.)
我做的飯被他給倒了我做的饭被他给倒了
He poured out the meal I made.
他的女朋友讓弟弟給搶了他的女朋友让弟弟给抢了
His girlfriend had his younger brother snatch it away.
(2) Subject + 給 gěi给 gěi + Object + Verb + Other Elements
In everyday conversation, 給 gěi给 gěi can stand in for 被 bèi被 bèi entirely — no 被 bèi被 bèi/叫 jiào叫 jiào/讓 ràng让 ràng needed at all. This is very common when speaking, but rare in written Chinese.
蛋糕都給你吃完了蛋糕都给你吃完了
All the cake was eaten up by you.
還好杯子沒給你摔破还好杯子没给你摔破
Good thing you didn’t break the cup. (沒 méi沒 méi — negation — goes before 給 gěi给 gěi, same rule as always.)
教室的燈早就給關上了教室的灯早就给关上了
The lights in the classroom were already turned off.
我的個資給駭客盜了我的个资给骇客盗了
My personal information was stolen by hackers.
我的秘密給你知道了，你別想活著離開我的秘密给你知道了，你别想活着离开
You already know my secret, so don’t expect to leave alive.
A Note on Position
給 gěi给 gěi always sits directly in front of the verb — never in front of the object, and never at the very end of the sentence.
3 Common Mistakes
❌
杯子被給他摔碎了杯子被给他摔碎了
✅
杯子被他給摔碎了杯子被他给摔碎了
The cup was broken by him. 給 gěi给 gěi goes right before the verb, after the object — not right after 被 bèi被 bèi.
❌
蛋糕都吃完了給你蛋糕都吃完了给你
✅
蛋糕都給你吃完了蛋糕都给你吃完了
All the cake was eaten up by you. Just like 被 bèi被 bèi, 給 gěi给 gěi has to come before both the object and the verb — it can’t be tacked on at the end.
4 Practice
Translate each English sentence into a sentence using 給 gěi给 gěi, then tap the card to check your answer.
01My phone was accidentally dropped by him.
我的手機被他不小心給摔了我的手机被他不小心给摔了
My phone was accidentally dropped by him.
👆 Tap to reveal
02The soup is all drunk up by the kids.
湯都給孩子們喝完了汤都给孩子们喝完了
The soup is all drunk up by the kids.
👆 Tap to reveal
03I nearly had my wallet stolen by a pickpocket.
我的錢包差點叫扒手給偷走我的钱包差点儿叫扒手给偷走
I nearly had my wallet stolen by a pickpocket.
👆 Tap to reveal
04Good thing the vase wasn’t broken by the cat.
還好花瓶沒給貓打破还好花瓶没给猫打破
Good thing the vase wasn’t broken by the cat.
👆 Tap to reveal
05The door was already locked by the guard.
門早就給警衛鎖上了门早就给警卫锁上了
The door was already locked by the guard.
👆 Tap to reveal
06His password was leaked by an employee.
他的密碼給員工洩露了他的密码给员工泄露了
His password was leaked by an employee.
👆 Tap to reveal
07My savings were completely wiped out by the stock market.
我的存款完全被股市給賠光了我的存款完全被股市给赔光了
My savings were completely wiped out by the stock market.
👆 Tap to reveal
08The plan hasn’t been ruined by the rain yet.
計劃還沒給雨毀计划还没给雨毁
The plan hasn’t been ruined by the rain yet.
👆 Tap to reveal
09His car keys were taken by mistake by a stranger.
他的車鑰匙讓一個陌生人給拿錯了他的车钥匙让一个陌生人给拿错了
His car keys were taken by mistake by a stranger.
👆 Tap to reveal
10Don’t worry, the message has already been sent by her.
別擔心，訊息已經給她傳出去了别担心，信息已经给她传出去了
Don’t worry, the message has already been sent by her.
👆 Tap to reveal
