你是被领养的
nǐ shì bèi lǐngyǎng de
The phrase "you're adopted" is translated into Chinese as 你是被领养的 (nǐ shì bèi lǐngyǎng de).
This phrase is used to state the fact that someone was taken from their birth parents and raised by another family.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, you can say 你係被領養嘅 to convey "You're adopted."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the emphasis construction 是…的 (shì…de) to highlight a specific fact or circumstance. In the phrase 你是被领养的, the particle 的 (de) at the end completes this construction and turns the sentence into a descriptive statement of fact.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ shì bèi lǐngyǎng de
When do people say it?
In formal contexts, one might use the more explicit phrase 您在这个家庭中是被送养的孩子 to state that someone is an adopted child within a specific family.
Did you know?
- In historical contexts, the phrase 过继 was used specifically for adopting a male heir to carry on the family name and perform ancestral rites.
- The character 领 in 领养 originally meant 'to lead' or 'to guide', suggesting the act of taking a child under one's leadership and care.
- In some highly formal settings, the phrase avoids the word 'adopted' entirely and uses terms related to 'entering the family' to soften the potential social stigma.
Examples in context
- 原来你是被领养的啊。Yuánlái nǐ shì bèi lǐngyǎng de a.So it turns out you're adopted.
Example conversation
A sister tells her brother a family secret.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，我有一个秘密要告诉你。Hàorán, wǒ yǒu yīgè mìmì yào gàosù nǐ.Haoran, I have a secret to tell you.
- 浩然 Haoran是什么？快告诉我。Shì shénme? Kuài gàosù wǒ.What is it? Tell me quickly.
- 雨婷 Yuting其实，你是被领养的。Qíshí, nǐ shì bèi lǐngyǎng de.Actually, you're adopted.
- 浩然 Haoran你在开玩笑吧？Nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ba?You're joking, right?
