passive /ˈpæsɪv/ adjective Learner's definition of PASSIVE
1
[more passive; most passive] —
used to describe someone who allows things to happen or who accepts what other people do or decide without trying to change anything被动的;消极的 -
His passive acceptance of the decision surprised us.他被动地接受了决定令我们惊讶。
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In her books, women are often portrayed in passive roles.在她的书中,女性常常被描述成被动的角色。
2 grammar
a of a verb or voice : showing that the subject of a sentence is acted on or affected by the verb(动词或语态)被动的 -
“Hits” in “She hits the ball” is active, while “hit” in “The ball was hit” is passive.在句子She hits the ball中,hits是主动语态;而在句子The ball was hit中,hit是被动语态。
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In “He was hit by the ball,” “hit” is a passive verb.在句子He was hit by the ball中,hit是被动动词。
◊ The passive voice is a way of writing or speaking that uses passive verbs.被动语态是一种用被动动词写作或讲话的方式。
— compare active b : containing a passive verb form被动态的;被动的 — passivity
/pæˈsɪvəti/ noun [noncount]