Vietnamese Grammar Bank
VIETNAMESE PASSIVE VOICE
Vietnamese speakers usually use a positive passive voice when they want to stay humble and show their respect to the other person or to express their honor by doing something.
We guide you through the structure and usages of được and bị, helping you express actions from a recipient’s perspective.
POSITIVE PASSIVE VOICE
AFFIRMATIVE
When you want to express the action being done by someone/something in a positive way, please follow either 1 or 2 patterns below:
PATTERN #1
Subject + được + Verb + bởi + someone/something
PATTERN #2
Subject + được + someone/something + Verb
For example:
| Vietnamese | English | ||
| Active | Passive | Active | Passive |
| Ba dắt tôi đi bơi |
Tôi được dắt đi bơi bởi ba tôi
Tôi được ba dắt đi bơi | Dad takes me to go swimming | (1) I am taken to go swimming by dad (2) I am (by dad) take to go swimming |
| Mẹ dạy tôi nấu ăn |
Tôi được dạy nấu ăn bởi mẹ tôi
Tôi được mẹ dạy nấu ăn | Mom teaches me how to cook | (1) I am taught how to cook by mom (2) I am (by mom) taught how to cook |
NEGATIVE
You just need to add “không” (means “not”) before “được” to make a negative sentence:
PATTERN #1
Subject + không được+ Verb + bởi + someone/something
PATTERN #2
Subject + không được + someone/something + Verb
Examples:
| Vietnamese | English | ||
| Active | Passive | Active | Passive |
| Ba không dắt tôi đi bơi |
Tôi không được dắt đi bơi bởi ba tôi
Tôi không được ba dắt đi bơi | Dad does not take me to go swimming | (1) I am not taken to go swimming by dad (2) I am (by dad) not taken to go swimming |
| Mẹ không dạy tôi nấu ăn |
Tôi không được dạy nấu ăn bởi mẹ tôi
Tôi không được mẹ dạy nấu ăn | Mom does not teach me how to cook | (1) I am not taught how to cook by mom (2) I am (by mom) not taught how to cook |
NEGATIVE PASSIVE VOICE
Vietnamese speakers usually use a negative passive voice when highlighting the bad cause or negative passive situation such as being cut by the knife, being harmed by someone, etc
AFFIRMATIVE
When you want to express the action being done by someone/something in a negative way, please follow either 1 or 2 patterns below:
PATTERN #1
Subject + bị + Verb + bởi + someone/something
PATTERN #2
Subject + bị + someone/something + Verb
For example:
| Vietnamese | English | ||
| Active | Passive | Active | Passive |
| Ba la tôi |
Tôi bị la bởi ba tôi
Tôi bị ba la | Dad scrolls me | I am scrolled by dad I have dad scrolled me |
| Mẹ đánh tôi |
Tôi bị đánh bởi mẹ tôi
Tôi bị mẹ đánh | Mom hits me | I am hit by mom I have mom hit me |
NEGATIVE
You just need to add “không” (means “not”) before “được” to make a negative sentence:
PATTERN #1
Subject + không bị + Verb + bởi + someone/something
PATTERN #2
Subject + không bị + someone/something + Verb
For example:
| Vietnamese | English | ||
| Active | Passive | Active | Passive |
| Ba không la tôi |
Tôi không bị la bởi ba tôi
Tôi không bị ba la | Dad does not scroll me | I am not scrolled by dad I have dad not scrolled me |
| Mẹ không đánh tôi |
Tôi không bị đánh bởi mẹ tôi
Tôi không bị mẹ đánh | Mom does not hit me | I am not hit by mom I have mom not hit me |
INTERROGATIVE
You just need to add the question words to the passive voice sentence to turn the affirmative sentence into an interrogative one.
Here are examples of questions in passive voice:
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Em được ba dắt đi bơi không? | Are you taken to the swimming pool by your dad? |
| Ai được trao học bổng? | Who was awarded with the scholarship? |
| Em được chở đi đâu chơi? | Where are you driven to? |
| Em được ba dạy học môn gì? | What are you taught by your dad? |
| Tay em bị đứt khi nào? | When was your finger cut? |
| Vì sao tay em bị đứt? | Why was your finger cut? |
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FAQs
How to form the passive voicce in Vietnamese?
The passive voice is typically formed using “bị” (when the action has a negative outcome) or “được” (when the action has a positive or neutral outcome) before the main verb. For example, “Tôi bị mắng” (I was scolded) and “Tôi được khen” (I was praised).
Should I use “bị” or “được” in the passive voice?
Use “bị” when the action has an undesirable effect on the subject (e.g., “Tôi bị mất ví” – “I had my wallet stolen”). Use “được” when the action benefits the subject or is neutral (e.g., “Tôi được tăng lương” – “I got a raise”).
Is the passive voice commonly used?
The passive voice is less common in Vietnamese compared to English. Active voice is preferred unless it’s necessary to focus on the subject receiving the action.
Can passive be used with all verbs?
No, the passive voice is generally used with transitive verbs (verbs that can take a direct object). Not all verbs in Vietnamese can form a passive sentence.
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