Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sack or a bag: A container, typically woven from rush or sedge, with a handle for carrying. It is used for holding items like rice or grain.

2. Verb (Passive Marker):

   • To be, to get, to be -ed: A grammatical word placed before a verb to indicate that the subject is the recipient or target of an action, often an undesirable or negative one. It forms the passive voice.
   • To suffer, to be subjected to, to be a victim of: Specifically denotes experiencing an adverse event, condition, or action from an external agent.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Anh ấy mang một bị gạo. (He is carrying a sack of rice.)
  • Cái bị của nhà sư. (The monk's bag.)

• Verb (Passive Marker):

  • Tôi bị lạc. (I am lost. / I got lost.)
  • Cô ấy bị mệt. (She is tired. / She became tired.)
  • Họ bị phạt. (They were punished.)
  • Thành phố bị tấn công. (The city was attacked.)

Advanced Usage

• Indicating an Unfortunate Event: "Bị" strongly implies the action or state is unwanted, harmful, or negative from the subject's perspective.

  • Ông ấy bị ốm. (He is sick. / He fell ill.)
  • Tôi bị mất ví. (I lost my wallet. / I was a victim of wallet loss.)

• With an Explicit Agent: The agent causing the action can be introduced by "bởi" (by) or, more commonly in spoken language, follows directly.

  • Nó bị mẹ mắng. (He was scolded by his mother.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bị động (adj): Passive.

  • Thái độ bị động. (A passive attitude.)

• Chịu bị (v): To accept or endure (a negative situation), though "chịu" is more common alone.

  • Anh ta phải chịu bị phạt. (He had to accept being punished.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Sack, bag, pouch.
• Verb (Passive): To be subjected to, to undergo, to suffer, to get, to be struck by.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Đâm bị thóc, chọc bị gạo: Literally "to poke the rice sack, to jab the paddy sack." Figuratively means to stir up trouble, to incite conflict between parties.

  • Hắn chuyên đi đâm bị thóc, chọc bị gạo. (He specializes in stirring up trouble.)

• Năng nhặt chặt bị: Literally "diligent picking makes a full sack." Equivalent to "Many a little makes a mickle" or "Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves."

  • Cứ tiết kiệm, năng nhặt chặt bị mà. (Just save money; little by little, it adds up.)

noun

1. sack; bag
   • bị gạo
     a rice bag

verb

1. To be, -ed
   • bị thương
     to be wounded
   • dân tộc bị áp bức
     an oppressed people
2. To be subjected to, to be victim of
   • bị tai nạn
     to be victim of an accident
   • bị mất cắp
     to be victim of a theft
   • bị người ta chê cười
     to be subjected to public sneer, to be a laughing stock