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PrepositionsHSK 5

Expressing passive voice with 给

给 can replace 被 to form passive sentences, with the receiver placed before 给 and the doer after it. Remember that the verb phrase usually requires a complement like 了 or a result, and this pattern is more common in spoken Chinese.

The doer can be omitted, leaving 给 directly before the verb, similar to the 被 construction. This is typical when the agent is unknown or not important.

Structure

Receiver + 给 + Doer + Verb Phrase
the verb often needs a complement such as 了 or a result
Receiver + 给 + Verb Phrase
the doer is omitted, similar to the 被 structure

Examples

  • 我给他骗了。
    Wǒ gěi tā piàn le.
    I got scammed by him.
  • 这么好的机会给你浪费了。
    Zhème hǎo de jīhuì gěi nǐ làngfèi le.
    Such a great opportunity has been wasted by you.
  • 菜都给你们吃完了吗？
    Cài dōu gěi nǐmen chī wán le ma?
    All the food has been finished off by you guys?
  • 孩子都给你宠坏了。
    Háizi dōu gěi nǐ chǒng huài le.
    That kid is totally spoiled by you.
  • 这里的水都给污染了。
    Zhèlǐ de shuǐ dōu gěi wūrǎn le.
    The water here is all polluted.

Words that use this