Chinese word

被

Pronunciation

Pinyinbèi

Meaning

  • particlebe ___-ed

Example

窗户被他不小心打破了。chuāng hù bèi tā bù xiǎo xīn dǎ pò le

The window was accidentally broken by him.

Illustration for 被 (be ___-ed)

More examples

手机被偷走了。shǒu jī bèi tōu zǒu le

The cellphone was stolen.

Core concept

A covering or outside force rests on something, leaving it in a condition shaped by what comes from outside.

Common phrases

  • 被打破bèi dǎ pò

    be broken

  • 被偷走bèi tōu zǒu

    be stolen

  • 被发现bèi fā xiàn

    be discovered

Similar words

让ràng: Shows that a person is made or allowed to carry out an action.
给gěi: Shows who receives an action, thing, or benefit.
把bǎ: Moves the affected object before the verb and focuses on what happens to it.

Definition in Chinese

表示被动关系的助词，表示主语因他人或外界行为而遭受某种动作或状态，常用于描述遭遇麻烦或损害；作为名词则指被子或覆盖物。biǎo shì bèi dòng guān xì de zhù cí biǎo shì zhú yǔ yīn tā rén huò wài jiè xíng wéi ér zāo shòu móu zhǒng dòng zuò huò zhuàng tài cháng yòng yú miáo shù zāo yù má fán huò sǔn hài zuò wéi míng cí zé zhǐ bèi zi huò fù gài wù

Word origin

被 (bèi, "be ...-ed") is written with 衣 (yī, "clothing") + 皮 (pí, "skin"), and its early sense of a covering or quilt extended to being covered and then to marking the receiver of an action.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 被 (bèi, "be ___-ed") commonly presents an event as something that happens to its subject, especially when the result is unwanted, while English passives are often neutral.

Other meanings

  • quiltnoun

Word lists with this word