被动 (bèidòng)

被动 means "passive" or "reactive" and describes a state in which someone or something is acted upon rather than taking initiative.

Meanings

[adjective] passive; not taking initiative
[adjective] reactive; in a disadvantaged or responding position

Example Sentences

他在工作中太被动了，需要主动一些。 Tā zài gōngzuò zhōng tài bèidòng le, xūyào zhǔdòng yīxiē. He is too passive at work and needs to take more initiative.

这个团队处于被动的局面。 Zhège tuánduì chǔyú bèidòng de júmiàn. This team is in a passive situation.

被动接受不如主动争取。 Bèidòng jiēshòu bùrú zhǔdòng zhēngqǔ. Passively accepting is not as good as actively striving.

语法课讲到了被动语态。 Yǔfǎ kè jiǎng dào le bèidòng yǔtài. The grammar class covered the passive voice.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
被动局面	passive situation
被动语态	passive voice (grammar)
陷入被动	to fall into a passive position
主动与被动	active versus passive

Usage Notes

被动 contrasts with 主动 (zhǔdòng, active or proactive). It is used both to describe human behavior (lacking initiative) and in grammar (passive voice). In competitive or professional contexts, being 被动 is generally seen as a weakness. In linguistics, 被动语态 is a technical grammar term.

Memory Hook

被 (bèi) is the passive marker in Chinese grammar (indicating something is done to the subject), and 动 (dòng) means "movement": 被动 is when the movement happens to you, not by you.