HSK 7
“把”字句5：表致使
“ bǎ ” zì jù 5 ： biǎo zhì shǐ
The '把' sentence expressing causation (致使)
Explanation
This is a special type of 把 (bǎ) sentence that expresses 致使 (zhìshǐ 'causing, bringing about'). Normally a 把 sentence (a sentence type using 把 to stress the handling of the object) describes the subject actively acting upon the object; but in this type, the subject does NOT actively cause the action—rather, the subject is the one who must suffer an unwanted event, carrying a tone of grief and regret.
(subject +) 把 (bǎ) + object (which is actually the 施事 shīshì, i.e. the agent/thing that 'performs' the action, such as 丈夫 zhàngfu 'husband', 老公 lǎogōng 'husband') + intransitive verb (such as 死 sǐ 'die', 跑 pǎo 'run off') + 了 (le).
when recounting an unfortunate event (loss of a loved one, someone leaving...) that befalls the subject, emphasizing that the subject is the one bearing the consequence; commonly seen in colloquial speech and in narrative with a lamenting, reproachful tone.
'把丈夫死了' does NOT mean 'she made her husband die/killed her husband', but rather 'she unfortunately lost her husband'; the verb here is an intransitive verb (die, run) rather than an action the subject exerts.
this sentence type is only used with certain verbs denoting loss/mishap (死 sǐ, 跑 pǎo, 丢 diū...) and carries a negative meaning; do not extend it indiscriminately to every verb, and do not misread the subject as the agent who actively causes the action.
Examples
(1) Formula: (subject +) 把 + object (the agent/doer of the event, 施事 shīshì) + verb + 了
Last year she unfortunately lost her husband, and afterwards her parents passed away as well.
Not only did the money fail to be earned, but on top of that her husband ran off.
Practice
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Learn ““把”字句5：表致使” effectively
The grammar point ““把”字句5：表致使” (The '把' sentence expressing causation (致使)) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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