Meaning of 被动
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- passive
How to use 被动
被动 describes a person, attitude, or situation where you react instead of taking the lead. It is often contrasted with 主动 (zhǔdòng, proactive). Example: 他在工作中太被动了。(Tā zài gōngzuò zhōng tài bèidòng le.) He is too passive at work.
被 (bèi) is the word that marks something being done to you, and 动 (dòng) means to move. Put them together and 被动 is "being moved" by someone else instead of moving yourself, which is being passive.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write 动 as 功 (gōng, merit) or 劝 (quàn, to advise), which look similar on the left side. Also remember both syllables are fourth tone: bèi dòng, not bēi dòng.
被动 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
被 bèi · quilt · 10 strokes
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动 dòng · to move · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 被动.
| 动作 | dòngzuò | movement; motion; action; to act; to move |
| 行动 | xíngdòng | operation; action |
| 动物 | dòngwù | animal |
| 活动 | huódòng | to exercise; to move about; to work out; shaky; unsteady; loose (tooth etc) |
| 运动 | yùndòng | to move; to exercise |
| 感动 | gǎndòng | to move (sb); to touch (sb emotionally) |
| 动物园 | dòngwùyuán | zoo |
| 发动 | fādòng | to start; to launch |
| 自动 | zìdòng | automatic; voluntarily |
| 主动 | zhǔdòng | to take the initiative; to do sth of one's own accord |
| 动力 | dònglì | motive power; (fig.) motivation; impetus |
| 推动 | tuīdòng | to push (e.g. for acceptance of a plan); to promote; to give impetus to |
Questions about 被动
What does 被动 mean?
被动 (bèidòng) means "passive" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 被动?
被动 is made of 2 characters: 被 (10 strokes), 动 (6 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 被动 an HSK word?
Yes. 被动 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 被动 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 被动 is written 被動.
What is the opposite of 被动?
The usual opposite is 主动 (zhǔdòng), meaning proactive or taking the initiative. You will often see them paired, as in 变被动为主动 (turn a passive position into an active one).
How do you say passive voice in Chinese grammar?
Passive voice is called 被动句 (bèidòng jù) or 被动语态 (bèidòng yǔtài). In Chinese it is often formed with 被, as in 我的手机被偷了 (My phone was stolen).