How to Say ‘Today I was dragged here by a friend.’ in Simplified Chinese
今天是被朋友硬拉来的。
jīn tiān shì bèi péng yǒu yìng lā lái de
[jeen-tyen shì bei péngyou yìng lā lái de]
💬 Usage Tip: Wrapping an action in 是……的 (shì……de) highlights how or why something happened, rather than the fact that it happened: 我是坐地铁来的 "I came by subway".
🇨🇳 In China: Saying a friend dragged you along is a common modest way to signal you're not a regular bar-goer. People in China often read that as a good sign.
Phrase Breakdown
今天是
jīn tiān shì
today I was
The 是…的 structure stresses how something happened. 今天 is jīntiān.
今天是星期五。
Today is Friday.
Words in this phrase
今天
jīn tiān
[jeen-tyen]
today
The current day; used when talking about what is happening now.
今天有一个很重要的职业活动。
Today there is a very important career event.
是
shì
[shì]
(emphasis) it is that
Used with 的 to emphasize how or by whom something happened.
我是坐地铁来的。
I came by subway.
被朋友
bèi péng yǒu
by a friend
This passive phrase tells you who did the action.
钱被朋友借走了。
The money was borrowed by a friend.
Words in this phrase
被
bèi
[bei]
by
Indicating the agent performing the action.
这件作品被大家赞赏。
This piece is admired by everyone.
朋友
péng yǒu
[péngyou]
friend
A person you know and like.
他是我的好朋友。
He is my good friend.
硬拉来的。
yìng lā lái de
dragged here
This closes the 是…的 structure. Say 的 lightly.
我是被硬拉来的。
I was dragged here.
Words in this phrase
硬
yìng
[yìng]
forcibly; insistently
Adverb meaning doing something by force or against someone's will.
他硬要我喝一杯。
He insisted I have a drink.
拉来
lā lái
[lā lái]
to drag along
Verb meaning to pull or bring someone over to a place.
我把他拉来唱歌。
I dragged him along to sing karaoke.
的
de
[de]
(emphasis particle)
Ends the 是…的 structure, stressing details of a past action.
他是昨天到的。
It was yesterday that he arrived.
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