Quick Answer
In Vietnamese, both 'bị + V' and 'được + V' are used to form passive sentences, but they convey different connotations regarding the outcome of the action. 'Bị + V' generally indicates an undesirable, negative, or involuntary action or consequence for the subject, suggesting something bad happened to them. Conversely, 'được + V' is used for positive, desirable, or beneficial actions and outcomes for the subject, implying they received something good or advantageous.
Comparison Table
| Feature | bị + V (Negative Passive) | được + V (Positive Passive) |
|---|---|---|
| Connotation | Undesirable, negative, unfortunate, involuntary, detrimental | Desirable, positive, fortunate, beneficial, advantageous |
| Action Type | Often involves harm, loss, punishment, or an unwelcome event | Often involves gain, praise, permission, opportunity, or a welcome event |
| Grammar Structure | Subject + bị + Verb (+ Agent) | Subject + được + Verb (+ Agent) |
| Example 1 | Anh ấy bị phạt vì đi trễ. He was punished for being late. | Anh ấy được thưởng vì làm tốt. He was rewarded for doing well. |
| Example 2 | Cô ấy bị chê vì nấu ăn dở. She was criticized for cooking badly. | Cô ấy được khen vì nấu ăn ngon. She was praised for cooking well. |
Detailed Explanation
The Vietnamese passive voice is formed primarily using the verbs 'bị' and 'được' before the main verb, sometimes followed by the agent of the action. While both translate to "to be + past participle" or "to get + past participle" in English, their usage is determined by the speaker's perception of the outcome – whether it's good or bad for the subject.
bị + V (Negative Passive)
'Bị' (Hán-Việt: bị 備 - 'to be prepared for, to suffer') is employed when the subject experiences an unwanted, negative, or detrimental consequence. This can include suffering harm, loss, punishment, or being affected by an unfortunate event.
It often implies a lack of control or an involuntary submission to the action. For example, if your wallet is stolen, you would say 'Ví của tôi bị trộm' (My wallet was stolen) because being stolen is a negative event. It can also be used for natural phenomena that are perceived negatively, such as 'nhà bị ngập' (house was flooded).
được + V (Positive Passive)
'Được' (Hán-Việt: đắc 得 - 'to obtain, to gain') is used when the subject benefits from a positive, desirable, or advantageous outcome. This includes receiving praise, rewards, permission, opportunities, or experiencing a welcome event.
It suggests that something good happened to the subject, often implying that they received something or were granted something. For instance, if you are praised by your boss, you would say 'Tôi được sếp khen' (I was praised by my boss) because being praised is a positive event. It can also signify that an action was successfully carried out, as in 'công việc được hoàn thành' (the work was completed successfully).
It's crucial to understand that the "positive" or "negative" aspect is subjective and context-dependent. What is negative for one person might be neutral for another. However, the general rule of thumb remains: 'bị' for bad things, 'được' for good things.
Example Pairs
Here are some examples illustrating the difference in nuance:
Tôi bị mất xe máy.
I lost my motorbike (it was stolen/damaged).
Tôi được tặng xe máy mới.
I was given a new motorbike.
Anh ấy bị sếp la mắng.
He was scolded by his boss.
Anh ấy được sếp khen ngợi.
He was praised by his boss.
Cửa hàng bị đóng cửa vì COVID-19.
The shop was closed due to COVID-19.
Cửa hàng được mở cửa trở lại.
The shop was reopened.
Em bé bị ốm.
The baby became sick.
Em bé được bác sĩ chữa khỏi.
The baby was cured by the doctor.
Bài kiểm tra bị điểm kém.
The test received a low score.
Bài kiểm tra được điểm cao.
The test received a high score.
Nhà tôi bị cháy.
My house was burned (caught fire).
Nhà tôi được xây lại.
My house was rebuilt.
Cô ấy bị lừa.
She was deceived/tricked.
Cô ấy được giúp đỡ.
She was helped.
Hàng hóa bị hư hại.
The goods were damaged.
Hàng hóa được bảo quản cẩn thận.
The goods were carefully preserved.
Common Patterns
Certain verbs or contexts almost exclusively use 'bị' or 'được' due to their inherent positive or negative meaning:
- Always 'bị' for negative outcomes:
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Confusing positive and negative contexts
One common mistake is using 'bị' when the outcome is clearly positive, or 'được' when it's clearly negative, based on the English translation of "was/were".
❌ Anh ấy bị khen ngợi bởi sếp.
✅ Anh ấy được khen ngợi bởi sếp.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: Being praised is a positive experience, so 'được' must be used instead of 'bị'.
Mistake 2 — Using 'được' for natural disasters or accidents
Even if the action is passive, if it's a natural disaster, accident, or something undesirable that happens to a subject, 'bị' is always used.
❌ Nhà của tôi được ngập nước.
✅ Nhà của tôi bị ngập nước.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: A house being flooded is an unfortunate event, thus 'bị' is the correct choice, not 'được'.
Mistake 3 — Using 'bị' for successful completion or permission
When something is completed successfully, or permission is granted, 'được' is the appropriate choice.
❌ Dự án bị hoàn thành đúng hạn.
✅ Dự án được hoàn thành đúng hạn.
Why it's wrong and how to fix it: Completing a project on time is a positive achievement, so 'được' is correct. 'Bị hoàn thành' would imply the completion was an undesirable event or forced upon it.
Related Grammar Points
- mặc dù...nhưng vs tuy...nhưng — Although (Two Forms) (Comparison B1)
- vì...nên vs do...nên — Because (Informal vs Formal) (Comparison B1)
- hãy vs đừng vs chớ — Do vs Don't vs Must Not (Comparison B1)
- mà vs để — Relative Clause vs Purpose (Comparison B1)
- nhé vs nhỉ — Confirmation vs Seeking Agreement (Comparison B1)
- đi vs nào — Urging Particles Compared (Comparison B1)
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank with [bị or [được:
- Cô ấy ______ trúng tuyển vào trường đại học mơ ước.
Hint: Getting accepted into a dream university is a good thing.
Correct answer: Cô ấy được trúng tuyển vào trường đại học mơ ước. Explanation: Being accepted into a dream university is a positive and desirable outcome.
- Xe đạp của tôi ______ mất hôm qua.
Hint: Losing a bicycle is usually an unfortunate event.
Correct answer: Xe đạp của tôi bị mất hôm qua. Explanation: Losing a possession is a negative event, thus 'bị' is used.
- Anh ấy ______ nhiều người yêu mến vì tính cách thân thiện.
Hint: Being loved by many people is a positive feeling.
Correct answer: Anh ấy được nhiều người yêu mến vì tính cách thân thiện. Explanation: Being loved or liked is a positive reception, so 'được' is appropriate.