被 vs 让 vs 叫: three passive markers
被, 让, and 叫 all form the passive voice in Mandarin, but they differ in register and grammatical constraints. 被 is neutral and can appear in formal or informal contexts, and it allows the agent to be omitted. 让 and 叫 are colloquial, always require an explicit agent, and also function as causative verbs (“let” or “make”). Choosing between them depends on the tone you want to set and whether you need to specify the doer.
All three words introduce the passive voice, placing the receiver of an action as the subject and optionally stating the agent (the doer) after the marker. 被 is the most neutral and widely used, especially in writing and formal speech; it can stand alone without an agent (e.g., 被偷了). 让 and 叫 are typical of spoken Mandarin, require an agent, and also have non‑passive meanings (让 “to let”, 叫 “to call/to make”). 让 is slightly softer, while 叫 often implies the agent’s action is perceived as direct or unwelcome. In everyday conversation, 让 and 叫 are interchangeable when used as passive markers, but 叫 is more common in northern dialects.
When to use each
Use 被 when you need a neutral, universal passive marker that fits any register—from newspaper headlines to casual chat. It is the only option that works without stating the agent (e.g., 被打破了 “was broken”). It is also the preferred choice in formal writing, academic texts, and when you want to sound objective.
Although 被 is neutral, its long history and broad usage make it the default passive marker in educational materials. In very informal contexts, speakers may choose 让 or 叫 for a more colloquial feel.
Use 让 as a passive marker mainly in spoken, informal situations. It must be followed by an agent. 让 also commonly serves as a causative verb meaning “to let, to allow” (e.g., 妈妈让我去 “Mom let me go”), so context distinguishes the passive reading. In passive sentences, 让 often implies the action happened because of the agent’s direct involvement, sometimes with a nuance of concession or permission.
When used passively, 让 tends to sound softer than 叫; it can imply the subject allowed or endured the action. Some speakers feel 让 is slightly more polite than 叫 in passive constructions.
Use 叫 as a passive marker exclusively in colloquial speech, always with an agent. It also functions as a causative verb meaning “to make [someone do something]” or “to call”. In passive usage, 叫 often suggests the agent’s action is direct, abrupt, or unfavorable, and it is very common in northern Mandarin (e.g., 北京话). Because 叫 carries the additional meaning “to call by name”, passive sentences with 叫 can be momentarily ambiguous, but context resolves it.
In many dialects, 叫 is the default colloquial passive, while 让 is perceived as slightly more “written” in informal contexts. Unlike 被, 叫 cannot appear without an agent; the agent must always be explicitly stated.
At a glance
| 被 | 让 | 叫 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register | Neutral; used in both formal and informal contexts | Colloquial; avoided in formal writing | Colloquial; very informal, mainly spoken |
| Agent required? | No – 被 can stand alone (被打破了) | Yes – always requires an agent (让他打破了) | Yes – always requires an agent (叫他打破了) |
| Other meanings | None (exclusively passive marker) | Also means “to let, to allow” (causative) | Also means “to make” (causative) and “to call, to name” |
| Implied nuance in passive | Neutral; simple statement of fact | Often implies permission, concession, or softer tone | Often implies direct, abrupt, or unwelcome action |
| Common in northern Mandarin? | Yes, but standard everywhere | Less common than 叫 in northern dialects | Very common in northern colloquial speech |
Examples
- 被我的手机被偷了。Wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōu le.My phone was stolen.Agent omitted – 被 works alone.
- 被蛋糕被他吃了。Dàngāo bèi tā chī le.The cake was eaten by him.Agent included – neutral statement.
- 让窗户让风吹开了。Chuānghu ràng fēng chuī kāi le.The window was blown open by the wind.Colloquial; agent required (风).
- 叫我的书叫他借走了。Wǒ de shū jiào tā jiè zǒu le.My book was borrowed by him (and taken away).Colloquial, agent required; often used for unwanted actions.
- 让杯子让妹妹打碎了。Bēizi ràng mèimei dǎ suì le.The cup was broken by my little sister.Implies the subject allowed it to happen (perhaps accidentally).
- 叫我叫老师批评了。Wǒ jiào lǎoshī pīpíng le.I was criticized by the teacher.Common in spoken Mandarin; agent (老师) is explicit.
Common mistakes
- Using 让 or 叫 without an agent (e.g., *让偷了) — they always require an explicit doer.
- Using 让 or 叫 in formal writing, where 被 is the standard choice.
- Confusing the passive and causative uses of 让 and 叫 in the same sentence without context (e.g., 他让我打 means either “He let me hit” or “He was hit by me” – ambiguity resolved by context, but learners may misread).
- Overusing 被 in very casual conversation, making speech sound stilted or overly formal.
FAQ
- When do I use 被 vs 让 vs 叫 for the passive?
- Use 被 for any neutral or formal passive, and you may omit the agent. Use 让 or 叫 only in spoken, informal contexts, and always include the agent. 让 sounds a bit softer, while 叫 is more direct and typical of northern dialects.
- Can I omit the agent with 让 or 叫?
- No. Unlike 被, both 让 and 叫 require an explicit agent after them. For example, you must say 让他打破了, not *让打破了 (which would be ungrammatical as a passive). If you don't know or don't want to state the agent, use 被.
- Is 叫 always interchangeable with 让 in passive sentences?
- In most spoken contexts, yes, but there is a slight nuance: 叫 often implies the action is perceived as negative or abrupt, while 让 can imply the subject allowed it. Also, 叫 is more common in northern China; some southern speakers prefer 给 or 被 even in casual speech.
- How do I know if 让 or 叫 is passive or causative?
- Context and the subject's role are key. In a passive sentence, the subject is the receiver of the action (e.g., 他被打了 “He was hit”). In a causative sentence, the subject causes someone else to act (e.g., 他让我打他 “He let me hit him”). Pay attention to transitivity and the meaning of the main verb.