Vietnamese bị Usage (to be / to suffer)
bị is commonly used to express passive or adverse experiences, essential for learners.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
bị is commonly used to express passive or adverse experiences, essential for learners.
English meanings
- to be (passive)
- to suffer
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi bị mất ví.
I lost my wallet.
2
Chuyến bay bị hoãn.
The flight was delayed.
How to use it
bị indicates suffering or experiencing a negative or passive result. It is often used for loss, injury, delay, criticism, etc.
- bị is followed by negative events, verbs, or states.
- Loss, damage, delay often use bị.
- Positive benefits or permissions use được, not bị.
Compared with English
Compared with English
Unlike English passive which can be neutral, bị usually implies a negative or unwanted outcome. Positive or permitted passive uses được instead.
Common mistakes
Tôi được mất ví.
Tôi bị mất ví.
Losing a wallet is negative, so bị is used.
Tôi bị bạn giúp.
Tôi được bạn giúp.
Receiving help is positive, so được is used.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
What tone does bị usually carry?
Show answer
Multiple choice
What tone does bị usually carry?
- Negative experience
- Positive benefit
- Purpose
Answer: Negative experience
Explanation: bị is used for unwanted or negative results.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ____ mất ví.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ____ mất ví.
Answer: Tôi bị mất ví.
Explanation: bị is followed by negative events or states.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I lost my wallet." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I lost my wallet." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi bị mất ví.
Explanation: Use bị in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Tôi được mất ví.
Show answer
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Tôi được mất ví.
Answer: False
Explanation: Losing a wallet is negative, so bị is used.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Tôi được ốm.
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Tôi được ốm.
Answer: Tôi bị ốm.
Explanation: Being sick is negative, so bị is used.