Chinese Grammar: Using 由 to indicate the doer

Do you guys still remember the passive voice with 被? Today, we'll introduce another way to use the passive voice with 由. The usage is similar to 被 but will emphasize the doer more. You are wondering how it works?

Rules

In Chinese, you can use 由 to indicate that a person caused or did an action. In this case, use 由 for stressing the doer of an event.

You can consider it as “by” in English but could be a little different.

Structure

Something + 由 + The person + Verb

Examples

这个 问题 由 我 解决。
It is me who have solved this problem.

Difference between 被 and 由

You could use 被 in the previous sentence, to translate it with by and use the passive voice too. Let see with the next example how the doer is clearly stressed with 由.

这个 问题 被 我 解决 了。
This problem was solved by me." (straight to passive tense)

这个 问题 由 我 解决。
It is me who have solved this problem. (emphasis the doer “me”)

We could translate 这个 问题 由 我 解 as “This problem was solved by me.” too, but the second translation is better and stresses the doer particularly.

So, 被 and 由 are similar; they can form a passive voice and has a sense of “by”. The only difference is that 由 emphasizes more about the doer, so you can also translate it into “it is the one who does the thing” in English.

Examples

这个 问题 由 我 解决。
It is I who solve this problem.

这个 任务 由 他 负责。
It’s him who has the responsibility of this task.

比赛 由 她 主持。
The contest is hosted by her.

这 篇 文章 是 由 他 写 的。
It is him who writes this article.

Using 由 in the pattern of 是...的

由 can also use the 是...的 pattern to emphasize the doer of an action. It is placed right after the word 是. Don’t forget to add 的 at the end of the sentence, and you're all good.

Structure

Object + 是 由 + The person + Verb + 的

Examples

这个 计划 是 由 我 安排 的。
The plan is arranged by me.

菜 是 由 妈妈 做 的。
It was his mom who made the dishes.

房间 是 由 她 订 的。
It was she who arranged the room.

这 部 电影 是 由着 名 演员 演 的。
This film is acted by famous actors.

Tell you one useful expression with 由 to express “someone is in charge of something” ...由...做主

For example: 去 不 去 中国 由 妈妈 做主 。 It’s mom who is in charge of deciding whether to go to China or not.

Is that true?