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bị & được — Passive Constructions

Adversative bị and benefactive được

bị introduces an adversative passive (bad outcome)

SUBJECT + bị + (AGENT +) VERB — subject suffers the action.

📊 bị vs được
Marker Connotation Example Meaning
bị adversative (bad) bị đánh to be hit (bad)
được benefactive (good) được khen to be praised (good)
active neutral làm to do
💬 Examples
Tôi bị mất ví.
My wallet was lost. / I lost my wallet (unfortunate).
📝 bị = bad-outcome passive
Anh ấy bị phạt.
He was fined / punished.
📝 bị before verb = suffered
được introduces a benefactive passive (good outcome)

SUBJECT + được + (AGENT +) VERB — subject benefits from the action.

💬 Examples
Cô ấy được khen.
She was praised.
📝 được = good-outcome passive
Tôi được mời ăn tối.
I was invited to dinner.
📝 được + verb = positive event
Agent is optional; introduced directly after bị/được

SUBJECT + bị/được + AGENT + VERB (agent can be omitted).

💬 Examples
Anh ấy bị sếp phê bình.
He was criticized by his boss.
📝 bị + agent (sếp) + verb
Cô ấy được thầy khen.
She was praised by the teacher.
📝 được + agent (thầy) + verb