The Passive Sentence 4 (Advanced)

If you are not familiar with how to use passive sentences in Chinese, I suggest you read the following articles first. This will help you understand the usage of advanced passive sentences.

• The Passive Sentence 1 (HSK 3)

• The Passive Sentence 2 (HSK 4)

• The Passive Sentence 3 給给 gěi (HSK 6)

Structure

S + 被 + O + 所 + V Phrase

This is a highly formal expression of the passive voice, typically used in speeches. The verb used in this structure should also be formal, often a two-syllable verb. Unlike the passive sentences we have learned before, this structure allows for the verb to be placed at the end.

這是zhèshì我wǒ第一dìyī次cì感gǎn到dào自己zìjǐ被bèi一個人yígerén所suǒ吸引xīyǐn这是zhèshì我wǒ第一dìyī次cì感gǎn到dào自己zìjǐ被bèi一个人yígerén所suǒ吸引xīyǐn
This is the first time I feel attracted to a person.

沒想到méixiǎngdào他tā竟jìng會huì被bèi一個yíge小學生xiǎoxuéshēng所suǒ欺騙qīpiàn没想到méixiǎngdào他tā竟jìng会huì被bèi一个yíge小学生xiǎoxuéshēng所suǒ欺骗qīpiàn
I never thought that he would be cheated on by a schoolboy.

他的tāde決定juédìng尚未shàngwèi被bèi家人jiārén所suǒ認同rèntóng他的tāde决定juédìng尚未shàngwèi被bèi家人jiārén所suǒ认同rèntóng
His decision is not yet accepted by his family.

S + 為/为 + O + 所 + V Phrase

This particular structure is even more formal than the previous one and is exclusively used in formal or official documents. The verb used in this structure should also be formal, often a two-syllable verb. Unlike the passive sentences we have learned before, this structure allows for the verb to be placed at the end.

他tā此cǐ種zhǒng行為xíngwéi， 為wéi人類rénlèi社會shèhuì所suǒ不bù容róng他tā此cǐ种zhǒng行为xíngwéi， 为wéi人类rénlèi社会shèhuì所suǒ不bù容róng
His behavior is unacceptable to human society.

領導lǐngdǎo的de這zhè種zhǒng做法zuòfǎ往往wǎngwǎng不bù為wéi員工yuángōng所suǒ信任xìnrèn领导lǐngdǎo的de这zhè种zhǒng做法zuòfǎ往往wǎngwǎng不bù为wéi员工yuángōng所suǒ信任xìnrèn
Leaders are often not trusted by employees for this approach.

如此rúcǐ蠻橫mánhèng的de政策zhèngcè實在shízài不bù為wéi人民rénmín所suǒ接受jiēshòu如此rúcǐ蛮横mánhèng的de政策zhèngcè实在shízài不bù为wéi人民rénmín所suǒ接受jiēshòu
Such a brutal policy is really unacceptable to the people.

New usages

These are modern internet ironic terms used to express a coerced action, often associated with the control of the Chinese political network.

被消失 Bèi xiāoshī

消失 xiāoshī (Disappear)

It is similar to the English term “being sidelined.” Typically, this occurs when an actor or a singer posts something that is misunderstood by netizens, leading the government to perceive it as a challenge. As a result, the government restricts public access to the actor or singer.

那nà位wèi說shuō錯cuò話huà的de藝人yìrén馬上mǎshàng就jiù被bèi消失xiāoshī了le那nà位wèi说shuō错cuò话huà的de艺人yìrén马上mǎshàng就jiù被bèi消失xiāoshī了le
The actor who said the wrong thing immediately be blocked from the media.

被和諧/被和谐 Bèi héxié

和諧谐 héxié (Harmonized)

This one is essentially the same as the term 被消失 Bèi xiāoshī. The only difference is that this term is not used for a person but rather for events or words. For example, it can be applied to terms like Tiananmen, brainwash, human rights, and so on.

小熊xiǎoxióng維尼wéiní這zhè四sì個ge字zì在zài中國Zhōngguó被bèi和諧héxié了le小熊xiǎoxióng维尼wéiní这zhè四sì个ge字zì在zài中国Zhōngguó被bèi和谐héxié了le
The four characters Winnie the Pooh are blocked in China.

FYI
The four characters 小熊維维尼 xiǎoxióng wéiní (Winnie the Pooh) have been subject to censorship or “harmonization” in China due to their association with the character Winnie the Pooh. This association began when netizens started drawing comparisons between the physical appearance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Winnie the Pooh, which led to memes and online jokes. As a result, the Chinese government started censoring references to Winnie the Pooh to prevent any potential political implications or mockery. Therefore, the phrase “小熊維维尼” became sensitive and subject to censorship in China.

被潛規則/被潜规则 Bèi qiǎn guīzé

潛規則潜规则 qiǎn guīzé (Unwritten rules)

There are often unwritten rules, unspoken by people, that everyone is expected to follow in Asia. For instance, giving money to the government can smoothen processes, or never disagreeing with your supervisor even if you are certain they are wrong. Another common example is if you are Taiwanese celebrity who work in China, it is expected to publish a post stating there is only one China on October 1st. Those who do not adhere to these unwritten rules may face punishment such as being fired or ignored. This phenomenon is referred to as 被潛規則潜规则 Bèi qiǎn guīzé, meaning being subject to hidden rules or invisible regulations.

領導lǐngdǎo問wèn大家dàjiā意見yìjiàn的時候deshíhòu， 他tā竟然jìngrán真的zhēnde給gěi建議jiànyì， 難怪nánguài會huì被bèi潛規則qiǎnguīzé领导lǐngdǎo问wèn大家dàjiā意见yìjiàn的时候deshíhou， 他tā竟然jìngrán真的zhēnde给gěi建议jiànyì， 难怪nánguài会huì被bèi潜规则qiǎnguīzé
When the leader asked for everyone’s opinion, he actually gave suggestions. No wonder he ended up being sidelined.

新進xīnjìn人員rényuán一定yídìng要yào記得jìdé送sòng禮lǐ給gěi資深zīshēn前輩qiánbèi， 否則fǒuzé很hěn快kuài就jiù會huì被bèi潛規則qiǎnguīzé新进xīnjìn人员rényuán一定yídìng要yào记得jìdé送sòng礼lǐ给gěi资深zīshēn前辈qiánbèi， 否则fǒuzé很hěn快kuài就jiù会huì被bèi潜规则qiǎnguīzé
Newcomers must remember to give gifts to senior colleagues, otherwise they will become subject to hidden rules soon.