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March 24, 2026
被bèi(bei4)
The character 被 (bèi) is primarily used as a passive particle in Mandarin, indicating that the subject of the sentence is the recipient of an action rather than the doer. It is commonly found in sentences to express situations where something is done to someone, such as 'He was criticized by the teacher.' In literary contexts, it can also mean 'to cover' or 'to meet with.'
Strokes10Radical衤Frequency#65DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
The use of the passive voice, indicated by 被, reflects a cultural tendency in Chinese to emphasize the experience of the subject rather than the action itself, which can differ from the more active voice used in many Western languages.
Memory Tip
Imagine a quilt (被) covering you, keeping you safe while something happens outside. The shape of the character resembles a blanket being thrown over something, which helps connect its meaning of 'to cover' or 'by' as it shields the subject from action.
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AI Study Notes for 被
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a quilt (被) covering you, keeping you safe while something happens outside. The shape of the character resembles a blanket being thrown over something, which helps connect its meaning of 'to cover' or 'by' as it shields the subject from action.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the structure when using 被, as it requires the use of the agent (the doer) after it. A common mistake is to forget to include the agent, leading to incomplete or incorrect sentences. For example, '我被老师批评了' (I was criticized by the teacher) is correct, while '我被批评了' is incomplete without the agent.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 被 is crucial for forming passive voice sentences, which are important in everyday conversation. Focus on practicing its usage in various contexts to become comfortable with the structure, as it often appears in conversations about experiences and actions.
Cultural Note
The use of the passive voice, indicated by 被, reflects a cultural tendency in Chinese to emphasize the experience of the subject rather than the action itself, which can differ from the more active voice used in many Western languages.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to include the agent when using 被, leading to confusion. For example, saying '我被了' instead of the correct '我被老师批评了' (I was criticized by the teacher) omits the doer.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 被
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Grammar Patterns of 被
被 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
When the chairman of Campbell's retired, McGovern was named as his successor.
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这个组合的首张专辑一经推出便被盛赞为嘻哈乐的经典之作。
zhè gè zǔ hé de shǒu zhāng zhuān jí yī jīng tuī chū biàn bèi shèng zàn wéi xī hā lè de jīng diǎn zhī zuò。
The group's debut album was immediately acclaimed a hip hop classic.
Cultural Notes for 被
🏮Cultural insight
The use of the passive voice, indicated by 被, reflects a cultural tendency in Chinese to emphasize the experience of the subject rather than the action itself, which can differ from the more active voice used in many Western languages.
Word Family of 被
Words Containing This Character19
被bèiby
被告bèigàodefendant
被捕bèibǔto be arrested
被迫bèipòto be compelled
被动bèidòngpassive被動
被子bèiziquilt
被告人defendant (in legal case)
被害人victim
被窝quilt被窩
植被vegetation
棉被comforter
被害者victim (of a wounding or murder)
被套quilt cover
被单(bed) sheet被單
被褥bedding
包被peridium (envelope or coat of fungi, e.g. puffballs)
聪明反被聪明误too smart for one's own good聰明反被聰明誤
被面quilt
花被perianth (common term for calyx and corolla)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 被 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 被
You can use 被 to construct sentences where the subject receives an action, like '他被狗咬了' (He was bitten by a dog).
No, 被 is typically used in passive constructions and may not fit well in every context, especially where active voice is more natural.
While both indicate passive situations, 被 is more formal and is used in written or serious contexts, whereas 让 is often used in everyday spoken language.
