HSK 4 被 vs 让/叫
three ways to say passive — formal vs spoken
Comparison / 对比
| 被 bèi | 让/叫 ràng/jiào | |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Standard / written | 让: spoken; 叫: colloquial |
| Passive | 被老师批评了 | 让/叫老师批评了 (same) |
| Causative | Cannot mean let/make | 让他去 = let him go |
| Omit agent | 钱被偷了 (OK) | Less natural without agent |
Examples / 例句
Fill in the Blank / 填空练习
Type the correct word to complete each sentence. Press Enter or click Check.
Quick Quiz / 小测验
Real HSK 4 Test Questions Using 被 or 让/叫 / 真题示例
2 actual HSK 4 questions from our mock exams that test the 被 vs 让/叫 distinction:
被 vs 让/叫 FAQ
Are 被 and 让/叫 interchangeable in HSK 4?
No. Although 被 (bèi) and 让/叫 (ràng/jiào) translate similarly into English, HSK 4 fill-in-the-blank and listening questions test exactly the distinction between them. 被 is ONLY passive.
How is 被 vs 让/叫 tested in HSK 4?
Most often in HSK 4 阅读 (reading) Part 1 选词填空 (Q46-55), where you choose the correct word for a blank in a sentence. Also appears in 听力 (listening) where the speaker uses one but the printed answer paraphrases with the other. Master both 被 and 让/叫 collocations to lock in these points.
What's the quickest way to remember 被 vs 让/叫?
被 is ONLY passive. 让/叫 are BOTH passive AND causative. If 让 has no negative outcome, it is probably causative (let), not passive. Practice 3-5 fill-in-blank questions in our HSK 4 mock exams to lock the distinction.