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把bǎused to put the object before the verb (disposal / 把 construction)

HSK 3word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

把 (bǎ) means a disposal marker that puts the object before the verb. Speakers use subject + 把 + object + verb phrase to highlight what happens to a known object. The verb phrase usually needs a result, complement, or other detail after the verb, not a bare verb alone.

What does 把 mean?

  1. 1.

    used to put the object before the verb (disposal / 把 construction)preposition

What does the character 把 mean?

  • 把used to put the object before the verb (disposal / 把 construction)

How do you use 把?

Grammar patterns

  1. 1

    Subj. + 把 + Obj. + Verb Phrase

    Move the object in front of the verb and mark it with 把. The verb phrase should say what was done to that object in some detail.

  2. 2

    别 / 不要 / 没(有) + 把 + Obj. + Verb Phrase

    Negation goes before 把, not after it. Use 别 or 不要 for present or future, and 没 or 没有 for the past.

把 sentences often describe what happened to a known object, and the verb usually needs something after it such as 了, a complement, or a location.

Patterns

  • 把 + Obj. + 放在 + Place

    把护照放在行李箱里。

    Bǎ hùzhào fàng zài xínglixiāng lǐ.

    Put the passport in the suitcase.

  • 把 + Obj. + Verb + 完了

    他把咖啡都喝完了。

    Tā bǎ kāfēi dōu hē wán le.

    He finished all the coffee.

What are some examples of 把 in a sentence?

  1. HSK 3

    请把书放在桌子上。

    Qǐng bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng.

    Please put the book on the table.

  2. HSK 3

    我把作业做完了。

    Wǒ bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le.

    I finished doing my homework.

  3. HSK 3

    她把我的手机放在她的包里了。

    Tā bǎ wǒ de shǒujī fàng zài tā de bāo lǐ le.

    She put my cell phone in her bag.

  4. HSK 4

    你们不要把这件事告诉她。

    Nǐmen bùyào bǎ zhè jiàn shì gàosu tā.

    Don't tell her about this matter.

How is 把 different from 被?

把 marks what the subject does to a known object (disposal). 被 (bèi) marks the passive: the affected thing is the subject, and the doer is optional.

Only 把 fits here

我把作业做完了。

Wǒ bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le.

I finished doing my homework.

How is 把 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    我的书呢？

    Wǒ de shū ne?

    Where is my book?

  2. Speaker B:

    我把它放在桌子上了。

    Wǒ bǎ tā fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le.

    I put it on the table.

  3. Speaker A:

    护照呢？

    Hùzhào ne?

    What about the passport?

  4. Speaker B:

    请你把它放进包里。

    Qǐng nǐ bǎ tā fàng jìn bāo lǐ.

    Please put it into the bag.

  5. Speaker A:

    好，我把作业也拿上。

    Hǎo, wǒ bǎ zuòyè yě ná shàng.

    Okay, I'll take the homework too.

  6. Speaker B:

    别把它忘了。

    Bié bǎ tā wàng le.

    Don't forget it.

Can you use 把 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: 请___书放在桌子上。
  2. 2.Fill in the blank: 我___作业做完了。
  3. 3.Where does negation go? Choose the correct sentence.

What should you learn next?

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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.