把 (Bǎ) Sentences in Traditional Chinese
Subtitle: 把字句 (bǎ zì jù) — “Put The Object Up Front” Grammar
Want to sound more natural when you move, finish, fix, or “deal with” something? 把 (bǎ) sentences let you highlight the object first—then show what you did to it (and usually what happened as a result).
By the end, you’ll be able to convert normal SVO sentences into 把 sentences, choose the right “result” bits (like 完 wán, 掉 diào, 好 hǎo), and avoid the classic mistake of saying 把… and then… nothing.
Yak Snark Box: If you say 我把門關… and stop there, you’ve basically announced, “I’m about to do something,” then walked away mid-sentence. 把 (bǎ) usually needs a clear action + outcome. Finish the job. 😌
What 把 (Bǎ) Actually Does
Core idea: 把 (bǎ) pulls the object forward so the listener knows what’s being handled, then you describe what you did to it and what changed.
Basic Pattern
主語 + 把 + 受詞 + 動詞 + 補語/結果/方向/位置 (+ 了 le / 過 guò / 著 zhe)
Zhǔyǔ + bǎ + shòucí + dòngcí + bǔyǔ/jiéguǒ/fāngxiàng/wèizhì (+ le / guò / zhe)
Meaning: “(Subject) took (object) and did (verb)… causing a clear result / direction / placement.”
When You Should Use 把 (And When You Shouldn’t)
Use 把 When…
- There’s a specific object (not vague).
- You show a result (完 wán, 好 hǎo, 壞 huài…), a direction (進去 jìn qù, 出來 chū lái…), or a placement (放在… fàng zài…).
- You want to emphasize “what happened to the object.”
Quick Win Example
我把門關上了。
Wǒ bǎ mén guān shàng le.
I closed the door (shut it up).
Avoid 把 When…
- The verb doesn’t “do something to” the object (like 喜歡 xǐhuān to like).
- You can’t state a clear outcome/placement (no complement, no result, nothing changes).
- The object is too indefinite (like “some stuff” with no context).
Not Great
我把他喜歡。 (✗)
Wǒ bǎ tā xǐhuān.
“I bǎ like him.” (Nope.)
The 5 Most Useful 把 Patterns (Steal These)
| Pattern | What It Means | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 把 + 受詞 + V + 完 | Finish completely | 我把作業寫完了。 | Wǒ bǎ zuòyè xiě wán le. | I finished the homework. |
| 把 + 受詞 + V + 好 | Do it properly / get it ready | 你把行李整理好。 | Nǐ bǎ xínglǐ zhěnglǐ hǎo. | Get the luggage organized. |
| 把 + 受詞 + V + 掉 | Remove / throw away / lose (often “off”) | 我把舊衣服丟掉了。 | Wǒ bǎ jiù yīfú diū diào le. | I threw away the old clothes. |
| 把 + 受詞 + 放/放在… | Place somewhere | 請把杯子放在桌上。 | Qǐng bǎ bēizi fàng zài zhuō shàng. | Please put the cup on the table. |
| 把 + 受詞 + V + 進去/出來/回來 | Move in/out/back (direction) | 他把鑰匙放進去了。 | Tā bǎ yàoshi fàng jìn qù le. | He put the key in. |
High-Utility Result Words You’ll Use Constantly
寫完 (xiě wán) — finish writing
我把報告寫完了。
Wǒ bǎ bàogào xiě wán le.
I finished writing the report.
關上 (guān shàng) — close (shut)
我把窗戶關上了。
Wǒ bǎ chuānghù guān shàng le.
I closed the window.
弄丟 (nòng diū) — misplace / lose
他把錢包弄丟了。
Tā bǎ qiánbāo nòng diū le.
He lost his wallet.
修好 (xiū hǎo) — fix successfully
我把腳踏車修好了。
Wǒ bǎ jiǎotàchē xiū hǎo le.
I fixed the bicycle.
吃掉 (chī diào) — eat up (consume)
你把甜點吃掉了？
Nǐ bǎ tiándiǎn chī diào le?
You ate the dessert up?
拿出來 (ná chū lái) — take out (toward speaker)
請把護照拿出來。
Qǐng bǎ hùzhào ná chū lái.
Please take out your passport.
Useful 把 Phrases You Can Use Today
Each one is a ready-to-use sentence. Copy, swap the object, and you’re basically fluent (okay, “fluent-ish”).
- 請把燈打開。
Qǐng bǎ dēng dǎ kāi.
Please turn on the light. - 請把燈關掉。
Qǐng bǎ dēng guān diào.
Please turn off the light. - 我把照片傳給你了。
Wǒ bǎ zhàopiàn chuán gěi nǐ le.
I sent the photo to you. - 你把訊息看完了嗎？
Nǐ bǎ xùnxí kàn wán le ma?
Did you finish reading the message? - 我把名字寫錯了。
Wǒ bǎ míngzì xiě cuò le.
I wrote the name wrong. - 他把杯子打破了。
Tā bǎ bēizi dǎ pò le.
He broke the cup. - 我把檔案存好了。
Wǒ bǎ dàng’àn cún hǎo le.
I saved the file properly. - 請把門留著開著。
Qǐng bǎ mén liú zhe kāi zhe.
Please keep the door open. - 我把外套掛起來了。
Wǒ bǎ wàitào guà qǐ lái le.
I hung up the coat. - 別把手放進去！
Bié bǎ shǒu fàng jìn qù!
Don’t put your hand in! - 不要把這件事說出去。
Búyào bǎ zhè jiàn shì shuō chū qù.
Don’t tell this matter to others. - 我沒把手機帶出來。
Wǒ méi bǎ shǒujī dài chū lái.
I didn’t bring my phone out.
How To Convert A Normal Sentence Into A 把 Sentence
Step 1: Find the object you’re doing something to.
Step 2: Move it after 把 (bǎ).
Step 3: Add a result/direction/placement so the sentence feels complete.
| Normal Order | 把 Order | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 我關上門了。 Wǒ guān shàng mén le. | 我把門關上了。 Wǒ bǎ mén guān shàng le. | Add 關上 (guān shàng) to show the “closed” result. |
| 她放手機在包包裡。 Tā fàng shǒujī zài bāobāo lǐ. | 她把手機放在包包裡。 Tā bǎ shǒujī fàng zài bāobāo lǐ. | Use 放在… (fàng zài…) to show placement. |
| 他喝完咖啡了。 Tā hē wán kāfēi le. | 他把咖啡喝完了。 Tā bǎ kāfēi hē wán le. | 完 (wán) is the “finished” result. |
Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes
1) Using 把 Without A Result / Complement
Wrong-ish: 我把書看。 (✗)
Wǒ bǎ shū kàn.
Fix: 我把書看完了。
Wǒ bǎ shū kàn wán le.
I finished reading the book.
2) Using 把 With “Like/Know/Be” Verbs
Wrong: 我把你認識。 (✗)
Wǒ bǎ nǐ rènshí.
Fix: 我認識你。
Wǒ rènshí nǐ.
I know you.
3) Object Too Vague
Awkward: 我把一些東西整理好了。 (△)
Wǒ bǎ yìxiē dōngxī zhěnglǐ hǎo le.
Better: 我把桌上的文件整理好了。
Wǒ bǎ zhuō shàng de wénjiàn zhěnglǐ hǎo le.
I organized the documents on the desk.
4) Negatives: Use 沒(有) / 別 / 不要 In The Right Spot
我沒把錢帶來。
Wǒ méi bǎ qián dài lái.
I didn’t bring the money.
別把門打開。
Bié bǎ mén dǎ kāi.
Don’t open the door.
Practice Time: Turn These Into 把 Sentences
Try to rewrite each sentence using 把 (bǎ). Aim for a clear result/direction/placement. Answers are right below (no peeking… okay, a little peeking).
- 我寫完作業了。
Wǒ xiě wán zuòyè le. - 他把垃圾丟了。 (Hint: add 掉 diào.)
Tā diū le lèsè. - 請放你的包在椅子上。
Qǐng fàng nǐ de bāo zài yǐzi shàng. - 我忘記帶護照出來。
Wǒ wàngjì dài hùzhào chū lái. - 你把這個字寫錯了。 (Hint: already a 把 sentence—spot why it works.)
Nǐ bǎ zhège zì xiě cuò le.
Answer Key
- 我把作業寫完了。
Wǒ bǎ zuòyè xiě wán le. - 他把垃圾丟掉了。
Tā bǎ lèsè diū diào le. - 請把你的包放在椅子上。
Qǐng bǎ nǐ de bāo fàng zài yǐzi shàng. - 我把護照忘記帶出來了。
Wǒ bǎ hùzhào wàngjì dài chū lái le. - 你把這個字寫錯了。
Nǐ bǎ zhège zì xiě cuò le.
Why it works: 寫錯 (xiě cuò) gives a clear result (“written wrong”).
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
| You Want To Say… | Use This 把 Pattern | Mini Example | Pinyin | EN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish it | 把 + O + V + 完 | 把飯吃完 | bǎ fàn chī wán | finish the meal |
| Make it ready / done right | 把 + O + V + 好 | 把房間整理好 | bǎ fángjiān zhěnglǐ hǎo | get the room sorted |
| Remove / throw away | 把 + O + V + 掉 | 把垃圾丟掉 | bǎ lèsè diū diào | throw away trash |
| Put it somewhere | 把 + O + 放在 + Place | 把杯子放在桌上 | bǎ bēizi fàng zài zhuō shàng | put the cup on the table |
| Move in/out/back | 把 + O + V + 進去/出來/回來 | 把鑰匙拿出來 | bǎ yàoshi ná chū lái | take the key out |
Final Yak Box: If you remember one thing, remember this: 把 (bǎ) loves closure. Give the listener a result (完 wán / 好 hǎo / 掉 diào), a direction (進去 jìn qù / 出來 chū lái), or a location (在 zài). 把 is not here for vague vibes.
