formal passive vs informal passive — Bị động by Register

Quick Answer

In Vietnamese, the choice between the passive markers được and bị is primarily determined by the connotation of the action, whether it's desirable (được) or undesirable (bị). This selection also dictates the register, with được often appearing in more formal or neutral contexts, and bị commonly used in informal settings to describe misfortunes.

Comparison Table

Detailed Explanation

The Vietnamese language does not have a single, universal passive voice marker like English 'be + past participle'. Instead, it uses specific verbs, primarily được and bị, to indicate that the subject is undergoing an action, rather than performing it. The choice between these two is vital for expressing the correct sentiment and register.

Được: The Passive of Positive or Neutral Formal Outcomes

Được (which means "to get," "to obtain," "to gain" in its active form, Hán-Việt: 得 - đắc) is used when the passive action results in a positive, beneficial, or desired outcome for the subject. This includes receiving praise, rewards, permission, or achieving something. In more formal contexts, được can also be used in a neutral way to state that something was done or received, especially in official reports or news, without necessarily implying a strong positive emotion, but rather an accomplished or received fact without negative impact. For example, a report might state a building được xây dựng (was built) or a decision được thông qua (was passed/approved), maintaining a formal and objective tone.

Bị: The Passive of Negative or Undesirable Outcomes

Bị (which means "to suffer," "to be subjected to" in its active form) is used when the passive action results in a negative, undesirable, or adverse outcome for the subject. This often implies suffering, loss, damage, punishment, or being affected by an unfortunate event. Bị is very common in everyday conversation to describe misfortunes, accidents, illnesses, or when something unwelcome happens to someone. While usually informal, bị can appear in news reports or formal documents to objectively report negative events like accidents, natural disasters, or legal penalties, where the negative connotation is inherent to the event itself.

Understanding this distinction is key to C2 proficiency, as misusing được for a negative event or bị for a positive one can lead to confusion, humor, or even offense. The register also plays a significant role; in highly formal situations, a careful choice of wording or even an active construction might be preferred over bị, unless the negative event needs to be stated directly and objectively.

Example Pairs

Common Patterns

Here are some fixed patterns where the connotation is strong enough to almost always dictate the use of either được or bị:

For negative physical conditions or ailments: Always use bị. Tôi bị ốm. (I got sick.)Anh ấy bị gãy chân. (He broke his leg.)Em bé bị sốt. (The baby has a fever.) For natural disasters or unfortunate events: Always use bị. Thành phố bị lũ lụt. (The city was flooded.)Vườn cây ăn quả bị bão tàn phá. (The orchard was ravaged by the storm.) For loss or theft: Always use bị. Tôi bị mất ví. (I lost my wallet.)Xe của tôi bị trộm. (My car was stolen.) For praise, recognition, or awards: Always use được. Cô ấy được vinh danh. (She was honored.)Học sinh xuất sắc được tặng học bổng. (Excellent students were awarded scholarships.) For permission or approval: Always use được. Chúng tôi được phép vào. (We were allowed to enter.)Đề xuất của anh ấy được chấp thuận. (His proposal was approved.) For benefits, gains, or positive experiences: Always use được. Họ được hưởng nhiều lợi ích. (They benefited greatly.)Anh ấy được học hỏi nhiều điều. (He learned many things.)

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1 — Using bị for a positive or desirable outcome

This is a common error stemming from directly translating "to be" or "to get" without considering the connotation in Vietnamese.

❌ Tôi bị khen.

✅ Tôi được khen.

Using bị implies that being praised was an undesirable or negative experience, which is usually not the intended meaning. Được correctly conveys the positive nature of receiving praise.

Mistake 2 — Using được for a clearly negative or unfortunate event

Similar to Mistake 1, this happens when the negative implication of the event is overlooked.

❌ Xe của anh ấy được hỏng trong tai nạn.

✅ Xe của anh ấy bị hỏng trong tai nạn.

Using được implies that the car breaking down was a positive or beneficial outcome, which is incorrect. Bị is essential here to show the unfortunate nature of the damage.

Mistake 3 — Inappropriate register in formal contexts

While bị can be used for reporting negative events, in very formal or official reports focusing on facts, an active construction or a neutral passive (if possible with different phrasing) might sometimes be preferred over bị, especially if the report aims for maximum objectivity without emphasizing suffering.

❌ Tài liệu mật đã bị công bố trên mạng.

✅ Tài liệu mật đã được công bố trên mạng.

While bị công bố is grammatically correct in showing an undesirable release, được công bố (or an active construction like ai đó đã công bố) can sometimes be chosen in a formal report if the focus is purely on the fact of publication, regardless of its undesirability from the perspective of the document owner. The choice here depends on the subtle nuance the speaker wants to convey.

Được công bố makes it sound like it was part of a process, perhaps an unfortunate leak that still happened, whereas bị công bố strongly highlights the negative impact and undesirability of the act. For classified documents, bị công bố is often more accurate for an unauthorized leak.

Let's refine this to a more clear-cut example for a mistake where được would be completely wrong for a negative event:

Mistake 3 — Using được for an inherently negative action despite a formal context

Even in formal settings, if the action is inherently negative or damaging, được is still inappropriate.

❌ Cầu đã được phá hủy trong trận bão.

✅ Cầu đã bị phá hủy trong trận bão.

Even in a formal news report, stating that a bridge "was destroyed" must use bị because destruction is an undeniably negative event. Using được would imply it was a positive or desired outcome, which is absurd in this context. While được can be neutral in formal settings, it cannot override an inherently negative connotation.

Quick Quiz

Fill in the blank with bị or được:

1. Vì làm việc chăm chỉ, anh ấy đã _____ thăng chức lên vị trí quản lý.

Hint: Promotion is a positive outcome.

2. Chuyến bay của chúng tôi _____ hoãn do thời tiết xấu.

Hint: A flight delay is an undesirable event.

3. Những người biểu tình đã _____ bắt giữ vì gây rối trật tự công cộng.

Hint: Being arrested is a negative consequence.