为…所【wéi…suǒ】

为…所 makes a passive in formal writing. The thing affected is the subject, the doer goes between 为 and 所, and the verb follows 所 and ends the clause. 为 is read wéi here.

The verb

The verb after 所 is usually two syllables and often describes a reaction or a judgement: 熟悉, 接受, 重视, 理解, 感动, 吸引, 采用. It takes no 了 and no object.

• × 他的建议为大家所接受了 → 他的建议为大家所接受

A single-syllable verb appears only in fixed phrases such as 为人所知 "known to people".

The doer is always named

Plain 被 can leave the doer out. 为…所 can't: when the doer is general, 人, 人们 or 大家 fills the slot.

• × 这个方法为所接受 → 这个方法为人们所接受

The negative 不 goes before 为.

被…所 is the same pattern built on 被, a little less literary, and has its own entry.