让 (passive)
HSK 3- Passive (把/被)
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Sentences using 让 to express passive actions, typically carrying an undesirable connotation and commonly used in spoken language.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
Like 被, 让 (ràng) is used in passive constructions to indicate the agent performing the action. However, 让 is more colloquial and is typically used in spoken language.
This structure usually implies that something unpleasant or undesirable has happened to the subject. For example, a glass getting broken, clothes getting dirty, or a plan being cancelled are all situations where 让 is appropriate.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我的蛋糕让他吃了。繁: 我的蛋糕讓他吃了。Wǒ de dàngāo ràng tā chī le.
He ate my cake.
- 窗户让风刮破了。繁: 窗戶讓風颳破了。Chuānghu ràng fēng guā pò le.
The window was broken by the wind.
- 他的手机让我弄坏了。繁: 他的手機讓我弄壞了。Tā de shǒujī ràng wǒ nòng huài le.
I broke his phone.
- 我的衣服让雨淋湿了。繁: 我的衣服讓雨淋溼了。Wǒ de yīfu ràng yǔ lín shī le.
My clothes got soaked by the rain.
- 他让老师批评了一顿。繁: 他讓老師批評了一頓。Tā ràng lǎoshī pīpíng le yí dùn.
He was criticized by the teacher.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我的钱包让偷了。Correct:我的钱包让小偷偷了。
让 typically requires a clear agent (who/what causes the action). If the agent is unclear, using 被 (我的钱包被偷了) sounds more natural.
- Wrong:他让老师表扬了。Correct:他被老师表扬了。
让 often carries a negative connotation. For positive actions like 'being praised', 被 is more appropriate and common.