<blockquote>
<p>translates it as &quot;being killed by a Japanese person&quot;. I am almost certain that this is an error of the text. Am I wrong?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes, the translation is correct.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Can 让 be used in this way, as if it were 被？</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes, in this case 让 is not a verb, but a preposition used like 被 to introduce the doer of the action in a passive sentence. It is used in spoken language. Anyway, there is a difference. While sometimes the doer of the action can be omitted after 被, it can never be omitted after 让. For example:</p>
<p>Correct: 行李<strong>被</strong>淋了。<br />
Wrong: 行李<strong>让</strong>淋了。<br />
Correct: 行李<strong>让</strong>雨给淋了。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-07T18:50:57.813Z
In your third sentence,  行李让雨给淋了, must 让 be followed by 给？ Or would 行李让雨淋了work?
Buddy L
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-08T16:49:06.413Z
@BuddyL 给 is used this way (让...给+verb) in passive sentences, but can be omitted. See it as a reminder telling you "this is a passive sentence!" This is useful because sometimes the use of 让 (but also 叫) for passive sentences can cause misunderstanding.
Joe at wearyourchinesename.com
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-04T20:02:22.417Z
2022-03-08T16:51:33.573Z
2022-03-08T16:51:33.573Z
Joe at wearyourchinesename.com
<p>You should first read the full sentence, then judge the meaning of &quot;让&quot;. The full sentence should look like:</p>
<p>&quot;XXX <strong>让</strong> 日本人(Japanese)打死了(beating/beaten to death). Note this is equivalent to the sentence - &quot;XXX <strong>is/was</strong> beating/beaten to death <strong>by</strong> Japanese&quot;. So, the translation of &quot;让&quot; as &quot;被 (being/been...by)&quot; is correct anf justified.</p>
<p>In order to fit your line of thinking, the sentence should be:</p>
<p>&quot;日本人<strong>让</strong>XXX打死了&quot;, which is equivalent to say &quot;A Japanese <strong>is/was</strong> beating/beaten to death <strong>by</strong> XXX&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-04T20:51:49.760Z
2022-03-04T20:51:49.760Z
r13
<p>I understand this to mean very clearly &quot;to cause a Japanese person to be killed&quot; or, depending on context &quot;to invite a Japanese person to get killed&quot;.</p>
<p>However, the source that I am pulling this from translates it as &quot;being killed by a Japanese person&quot;. I am almost certain that this is an error of the text. Am I wrong? Can 让 be used in this way, as if it were 被？</p>

<translation><word-choice>
Translation of 让日本人打死了 in a text about Japanese occupation
# Translation of 让日本人打死了 in a text about Japanese occupation

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-04)

I understand this to mean very clearly "to cause a Japanese person to be killed" or, depending on context "to invite a Japanese person to get killed".

However, the source that I am pulling this from translates it as "being killed by a Japanese person". I am almost certain that this is an error of the text. Am I wrong? Can 让 be used in this way, as if it were 被？

**Tags:** translation, word-choice


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-03-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

> translates it as "being killed by a Japanese person". I am almost certain that this is an error of the text. Am I wrong?

Yes, the translation is correct.

> Can 让 be used in this way, as if it were 被？

Yes, in this case 让 is not a verb, but a preposition used like 被 to introduce the doer of the action in a passive sentence. It is used in spoken language. Anyway, there is a difference. While sometimes the doer of the action can be omitted after 被, it can never be omitted after 让. For example:

Correct: 行李**被**淋了。  
Wrong: 行李**让**淋了。  
Correct: 行李**让**雨给淋了。

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: In your third sentence,  行李让雨给淋了, must 让 be followed by 给？ Or would 行李让雨淋了work?  
> **username_1**: @BuddyL 给 is used this way (让...给+verb) in passive sentences, but can be omitted. See it as a reminder telling you "this is a passive sentence!" This is useful because sometimes the use of 让 (but also 叫) for passive sentences can cause misunderstanding.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2022-03-04. Score: -1

You should first read the full sentence, then judge the meaning of "让". The full sentence should look like:

"XXX **让** 日本人(Japanese)打死了(beating/beaten to death). Note this is equivalent to the sentence - "XXX **is/was** beating/beaten to death **by** Japanese". So, the translation of "让" as "被 (being/been...by)" is correct anf justified.

In order to fit your line of thinking, the sentence should be:

"日本人**让**XXX打死了", which is equivalent to say "A Japanese **is/was** beating/beaten to death **by** XXX".


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