Formal passive (被…所…)

Structure 受事 + 被 + agent + 所 + verb (two syllables)

被…所… (bèi… suǒ…) is a formal passive. It’s like the regular 被 passive but adds 所 before the verb, which is usually two syllables and somewhat abstract: 这首歌被很多人所喜爱 = "this song is loved by many people". 所 doesn’t change the meaning; it adds a literary tone. Common in writing: 被…所吸引/感动/了解.

Examples

他tā被bèi大dà家jiā所suǒ信xìn任rèn。
He is trusted by everyone.
这zhè首shǒu歌gē被bèi很hěn多duō人rén所suǒ喜xǐ爱ài。
This song is loved by many people.
真zhēn相xiàng终zhōng于yú被bèi人rén们men所suǒ了liǎo解jiě。
The truth was finally understood by people.

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