Introduction:
You've learned how to use 把 (bǎ) to show what the subject does to an object. Now, let's look at the opposite: the 被 (bèi) structure. This is used to create passive sentences, where the subject receives the action. It's like the difference between "The cat ate the fish" (active) and "The fish was eaten by the cat" (passive).

The Core Structure:
The basic formula is:
Receiver + 被 + (Doer) + Verb Phrase + (了)

Let's break it down:

• Receiver: The person or thing that is affected by the action (this is the subject of the sentence).

• 被: The passive voice marker.

• (Doer): The one who does the action. This part is often omitted if the doer is unknown or unimportant.

• Verb Phrase: Like the 把 sentence, the verb usually can't be alone. It often needs 了, a complement, or other elements.

Examples:

1. Active: 猫吃了鱼。 (Māo chī le yú.) - The cat ate the fish.
   Passive: 鱼被猫吃了。 (Yú bèi māo chī le.) - The fish was eaten by the cat.

2. Active: 他拿走了我的书。 (Tā ná zǒu le wǒ de shū.) - He took my book.
   Passive: 我的书被他拿走了。 (Wǒ de shū bèi tā ná zǒu le.) - My book was taken by him.

3. (Doer omitted): 我的自行车被偷了。 (Wǒ de zìxíngchē bèi tōu le.) - My bike was stolen. (We don't know or say who stole it).

Key Points:

• 被 sentences are often used for situations that are unexpected or unpleasant for the receiver, like making a mistake, losing something, or something breaking.

• 杯子被打破了。 (Bēizi bèi dǎ pò le.) - The cup was broken.

• In informal spoken Chinese, people sometimes use 叫 (jiào) or 让 (ràng) instead of 被, but the structure is the same.

• 我的书让他拿走了。 (Wǒ de shū ràng tā ná zǒu le.) - My book was taken by him.

Practice:
Change this active sentence into a passive one using 被.

1. 弟弟玩坏了我的电脑。 (Dìdi wán huài le wǒ de diànnǎo.) - My younger brother broke my computer by playing with it.
   (Answer: 我的电脑被弟弟玩坏了。)