When studying HSK 3 or 4, most students learn that to make a sentence passive, you use the Bei (被) particle.
- Active: I ate the apple. (我吃了苹果).
- Passive: The apple was eaten by me. (苹果被我吃了).
However, in daily Chinese conversation and real reading materials, the "Bei" particle often vanishes. You will hear sentences that literally translate to "The apple ate" or "The book finished."
This is known as the Unmarked Passive (or Notional Passive). It relies on logic rather than grammatical markers. Mastering this "Invisible Passive" is the key to sounding less like a translation app and more like a native speaker.
The Logic: Topic-Comment Structure
Why does Chinese allow this? Unlike English, which focuses on Subject-Verb, Chinese focuses on Topic-Comment.
If you place an Inanimate Object (Subject) at the start of a sentence followed by an Action Verb, logic dictates the relationship. Since a book cannot read, and an apple cannot eat, the listener automatically understands the object is receiving the action.
The Rule of "Non-Doer"
Unmarked passive sentences work best when the subject cannot possibly be the doer of the action.
- Structure: [Receiver] + [Verb] + [Result]
- Example: 信写好了。 (Xìn xiě hǎo le.)
- Literal: The letter wrote good [LE].
- Logic: Letters can't write. Someone must have written it.
- Translation: The letter is written (and ready).
If you swap the subject for a person (e.g., 他写好了), it becomes Active Voice ("He finished writing").
When to Use Unmarked vs. Marked (Bei)
Students often ask: "Should I use Bei or not?" Here is the HSK cheat sheet.
1. Use "Marked" (Bei) for Bad News
In Mandarin, Unmarked Passives are usually neutral. Marked Passives (Bei) often imply the object suffered something negative or unfortunate.
- Unmarked: 钱包丢了。(Qiánbāo diū le) -> The wallet is lost. (Neutral statement of fact).
- Marked: 钱包被偷了。(Qiánbāo bèi tōu le) -> The wallet was stolen. (Negative implication of victimhood).
2. Use "Unmarked" for Daily Routines
For routine, positive, or expected results (cleaning, fixing, buying), we almost exclusively use the Unmarked form.
- Scenario: Buying tickets.
- Native: 票买到了。(Piào mǎi dào le). -> Tickets are bought (I got them).
- Weird/Too Dramatic: 票被买到了。(Tickets were [acted upon] by buying).
Grammatical Requirements: You Need a Result
An unmarked passive sentence rarely consists of just a Verb. It usually needs a Complement to feel complete. The verb acts as the cause, and the complement acts as the status.
- Incorrect: 书看。(The book read).
- Correct: 书看完了。(The book is read finished).
Common Complements in Unmarked Sentences:
- Result: 完了 (Finished), 好了 (Ready/Done), 懂了 (Understood).
- Example: 问题解决了。(The problem is solved).
- Direction: 上去了 (Went up), 拿走了 (Taken away).
- Example: 椅子搬走了。(The chair was moved away).
- Degree: 干净了 (Clean), 坏了 (Broken).
- Example: 衣服洗干净了。(Clothes were washed clean).
Learn more about structuring these verbs in our guide to Chinese Complement Structures.
HSK Practice: Spot the "Implicit" Agent
To tackle HSK reading comprehension, practice rephrasing these sentences mentally.
Exercise 1: Household Chores
- Sentence: 碗洗了吗？ (Wǎn xǐ le ma?)
- Analysis: "Have the bowls washed?"
- Meaning: Did [someone] wash the bowls?
Exercise 2: Academic Status
- Sentence: 作业交了。 (Zuòyè jiāo le.)
- Analysis: "Homework handed in."
- Meaning: The homework has been submitted.
Exercise 3: Repair
- Sentence: 电脑修好了。 (Diànnǎo xiū hǎo le.)
- Analysis: "Computer repair good."
- Meaning: The computer is fixed.
Avoiding Common HSK Mistakes
Don't confuse Unmarked Passive with simple "Subject-Verb" errors.
- Do NOT use inanimate subjects with animate verbs.
- You cannot say "The cake likes..." (蛋糕喜欢...). Even unmarked logic can't fix that because "liking" isn't a passive result.
- Do NOT forget the particle 'Le'.
- Unmarked passives almost always indicate a change of state. The Particle Le (了) is usually required at the end. "饭做好" sounds incomplete; "饭做好了" sounds complete.
Conclusion
Grammar books tell you that Passive Voice is complicated. In reality, the Unmarked Passive is a shortcut. It allows you to speak faster by dropping the Subject (The doer) and the "Bei," focusing purely on the Result.
Key Takeaway: If the subject can't do the action, assume it's passive.
Next time you want to say "The coffee is made," don't scramble to translate "is made." Just say: Coffee made [result]. (咖啡做好了). Simple, logical, and native.