Abstract:
There are several passive patterns in modern Chinese, in which the 被(bei) pattern is the major one. In fact, “教”(jiao), “叫”(jiao), and被(bei) are all function words with passive sense, but they differ etymologically. 被(bei) was gradually functionalized from the verb 遭受(receive), while “教”(jiao) and “叫”(jiao) derived their passive sense respectively from causative sense. In terms of time, “教”(jiao) obtained its causative and passive senses as early as the Tang Dynasty, but “叫”(jiao) didn’t have causative and passive senses until the Ming Dynasty. In Jiangsu dialect, 拨(bo) has always had a passive sense, and 着(zhe) evolved its passive sense from causative patterns.
