Passive Voice in Chinese: How Is It Different from English?

1. Introduction

Passive voice is a grammatical structure that shifts the focus from the subject performing an action to the object receiving it. While English and Chinese both use passive constructions, they differ significantly in form, frequency, and usage. Understanding these differences is crucial for learners and translators to avoid common mistakes.

In this article, we explore Passive Voice in Chinese: How Is It Different from English? by examining their structures, common scenarios, and key distinctions.

2. What Is Passive Voice?

Passive voice reverses the typical subject-verb-object order, emphasizing the receiver of the action rather than the doer.

2.1 English Passive Voice

In English, passive voice is formed using:

• Auxiliary verb "to be" + past participle
• Optional agent introduced by "by"

Example:

• Active: The chef cooked the meal.
• Passive: The meal was cooked (by the chef).

2.2 Chinese Passive Voice

Chinese employs different markers, primarily:

• 被 (bèi) – Most common
• 让 (ràng), 叫 (jiào), 给 (gěi) – Informal alternatives

Example:

• Active: 厨师做了饭。(The chef cooked the meal.)
• Passive: 饭被厨师做了。(The meal was cooked by the chef.)

3. Key Differences Between English and Chinese Passive Voice

Feature	English Passive Voice	Chinese Passive Voice
Structure	"To be" + past participle	被/让/叫/给 + verb
Agent Mention	Optional (introduced by "by")	Often omitted unless necessary
Frequency	Common in formal writing	Less frequent, often implies negativity
Alternative Forms	"Get" passive (e.g., "get paid")	让, 叫, 给 in spoken Chinese

3.1 Frequency and Context

English uses passive voice extensively in academic, legal, and technical writing. In contrast, Chinese prefers active constructions unless emphasizing an action’s effect or negative outcome.

3.2 Emotional Connotation

Chinese passive voice often implies something undesirable:

• 他的钱包被偷了。 (His wallet was stolen.)
  English passive voice is neutral unless context suggests otherwise.

4. When Is Passive Voice Used in Chinese?

Chinese passive constructions appear in specific scenarios:

1. Negative Events – Accidents, losses, or misfortunes.

   • 窗户被打破了。 (The window was broken.)

2. Formal or Written Contexts – Legal or official documents.

   • 法律被通过了。 (The law was passed.)

3. Agent Unknown or Unimportant

   • 信被寄出去了。 (The letter was sent.)

5. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Learners often struggle with Passive Voice in Chinese: How Is It Different from English? Here are frequent errors:

• Overusing 被 (bèi): Unlike English, Chinese avoids passive voice unless necessary.
• Misplacing the Agent: In Chinese, the agent follows 被 directly.
  • Incorrect: 被做了饭厨师。
  • Correct: 饭被厨师做了。

6. FAQs About Passive Voice in Chinese and English

Q1: Can Chinese passive voice express positive actions?

A: Rarely. It typically highlights negative or neutral events. For positive outcomes, active voice is preferred.

Q2: Why is English passive voice more common than Chinese?

A: English uses it for objectivity and formality. Chinese prioritizes clarity and directness.

Q3: Are 让, 叫, and 给 interchangeable with 被?

A: They are informal and often imply causation (e.g., "let" or "make"). 被 is the standard marker.

Q4: How do I practice passive voice in Chinese?

A: Read news reports or legal texts where passive structures appear. Note how they differ from English.

7. Advanced Notes: Special Cases

7.1 Zero-Marker Passive

Some Chinese sentences omit 被 but remain passive in meaning:

• 问题解决了。 (The problem was solved.)

7.2 Historical Texts

Classical Chinese rarely used passive voice. Modern usage evolved through language contact.

8. Practical Examples

Compare these translations to grasp Passive Voice in Chinese: How Is It Different from English?

English (Passive)	Chinese (Passive)	Literal Translation
The book was written by a famous author.	这本书被一位著名作家写了。	This book was written by a famous author.
The project will be completed soon.	项目很快会被完成。	The project soon will be completed.

9. Final Thoughts

Mastering passive voice requires recognizing its distinct roles in each language. While English relies on it for stylistic variety, Chinese reserves it for specific contexts. By studying Passive Voice in Chinese: How Is It Different from English?, learners can refine their grammar and produce more natural translations.