为…所… (literary passive)

Structure patient + 为 + agent + 所 + verb

为…所… (wéi… suǒ…) is a literary passive: the patient comes first, 为 introduces the agent, and 所 precedes the verb (almost always two syllables and somewhat abstract): 他的精神为人们所敬佩 = "his strength of character is admired by all". It is the formal twin of 被…所… (HSK 5): same frame, but with 为 instead of 被, making it even more formal and typical of essays and the press. NOTE: here 为 reads wéi (second tone), not wèi. It often takes a generic agent, especially 人 ("by people"): 为人所知 = "to be known", 为名利所困 = "to be trapped by fame and gain".

Examples

他tā的de奉fèng献xiàn精jīng神shén为wéi人rén们men所suǒ敬jìng佩pèi。
His spirit of dedication is admired by everyone.
这zhè位wèi作zuò家jiā生shēng前qián并bìng不bù为wéi人rén所suǒ知zhī。
During his lifetime, this writer was hardly known to anyone.
他tā一yī生shēng不bù为wéi名míng利lì所suǒ困kùn。
All his life he was never ensnared by fame or gain.
真zhēn理lǐ终zhōng将jiāng为wéi世shì人rén所suǒ接jiē受shòu。
The truth will in the end be accepted by all.

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