HSK 6 Special structures (把 · 被 · 是…的 · 让)
为 … 所 …
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
- 他的奉献精神为人们所敬佩。
His spirit of dedication is admired by everyone.
- 这位作家生前并不为人所知。
During his lifetime, this writer was hardly known to anyone.
- 他一生不为名利所困。
All his life he was never ensnared by fame or gain.
- 真理终将为世人所接受。
The truth will in the end be accepted by all.
Levels are indicative: they follow the standard Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning) progression, not an official HSK 3.0 mapping. We never assign levels by eye.