被 (bèi) — passive marker in Mandarin
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#32 most common word · HSK 3 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
被 is pronounced bèi. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
tā bèi lǎoshī biǎoyáng le.
He was praised by the teacher.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 被 mean?+
被 (bèi) means "passive marker" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 被?+
被 is pronounced bèi. It uses the tone 4 (falling). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 被 in Mandarin?+
被 is the #32 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 被 fits
Every HSK 3 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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