把: Disposing of an Object
把 moves the object in front of the verb. It is used when the subject does something to an object and the sentence reports a result — what happened to it, where it went, or how it changed.
The Rules of 把
Why 把 exists
Chinese word order usually puts the object after the verb. 把 lets you front the object so a longer result can follow the verb: 我把衣服洗干净了 — I washed the clothes clean. Without 把, the result has nowhere to go.
被: The Passive
被 marks the passive: the subject receives the action, usually something unwanted or unexpected.
With and without the agent
把 and 被 Side by Side
The same event, seen from two sides. 把 puts the doer first; 被 puts the affected thing first. Both require a result after the verb.
Passive without 被
Chinese also forms passives with 让 and 叫 in speech, and with 是…的 for focus. 被 remains the standard and the one exams test.
Common Mistakes
Practice
Rewrite each sentence with 把 or 被 as indicated.
- 我 关 窗户 了 → (把)
- 他 吃 蛋糕 完了 → (把)
- 我的 自行车 骑 走了 → (被)
- 房间 打扫 干净 了 → (被)
Both structures appear constantly at HSK 3 and above — see the HSK 3 study plan.
FAQ
When must I use 把?
When the object is definite and the sentence reports a result, a location or a change. If you can say what happened to the object, 把 is usually available, and Chinese prefers it over leaving the object after the verb with a long complement.
Is 被 always negative?
Traditionally yes, and it still sounds that way in most cases: being stolen, criticised, injured. In modern writing 被 is used more neutrally, but learners should assume a negative nuance in speech.
Can I omit the agent after 被?
Yes, and it is common when the agent is unknown or unimportant: 我的钱包被偷了. Including the agent is optional and often adds blame or explanation.
Do 把 and 被 need 了?
They need a result, which is often expressed with 了, a direction complement such as 走, or a resultative such as 干净. 了 alone is not always required, but a bare verb is never enough.