Japanese Passive & Causative Forms: られる, させる, させられる

Q: Translate: "I was praised by a friend."

私は友達に褒められた。

“I was praised by my boss.” “My parents made me study.” “I was forced to work overtime.” These three meanings show up constantly in real life, and Japanese has very systematic grammar patterns for each.

This article covers three core foundations:

受身形 (passive): focus on the party that receives the action.
使役形 (causative): make or let someone perform an action.
使役受身形 (causative-passive): someone is forced to perform an action.

If you work in a Japanese environment, these three patterns appear often in email, meetings, news, and everyday conversation.

1. Passive form (受身形うけみけい)

1a. Basic formation

Verb type	Formula	Example
Ichidan	drop `る` + `られる`	食たべる → 食たべられる
Godan	change ending to `あ` row + `れる`	読よむ → 読よまれる
する	`される`	する → される
来くる	`こられる`	来くる → こられる

1b. Passive sentence pattern

General format:

A は B に V-られる/れる

Meaning: A receives the action from B.

Example 1
私わたしは先生せんせいに褒ほめられました。
(Watashi wa sensei ni homeraremashita.)
I was praised by the teacher.

Example 2
弟おとうとは母ははに注意ちゅういされました。
(Otouto wa haha ni chuui saremashita.)
My younger brother was scolded by our mother.

1c. Informational passive (object becomes the topic)

Sometimes passive highlights the object or fact rather than the doer.

Example 3
この寺てらは多おおくの観光客かんこうきゃくに訪おとずれられています。
(Kono tera wa ooku no kankoukyaku ni otozurerarete imasu.)
This temple is visited by many tourists.

1d. Suffering Passive (迷惑めいわくの受身うけみ)

This is a distinctive Japanese pattern: the subject takes a negative impact, even when the action is not aimed directly at them.

Example 4
雨あめに降ふられて、服ふくがびしょびしょです。
(Ame ni furarete, fuku ga bishobisho desu.)
I got caught in the rain, and my clothes are soaked.

Example 5
電車でんしゃで足あしを踏ふまれました。
(Densha de ashi o fumaremashita.)
My foot was stepped on on the train.

Example 6
弟おとうとにケーキを食たべられた。
(Otouto ni keeki o taberareta.)
My cake was eaten by my little brother (and I was inconvenienced).

2. Causative form (使役形しえきけい)

Core meaning: make someone else do something. Depending on context, the nuance can be permission, instruction, or coercion.

2a. Basic formation

Verb type	Formula	Example
Ichidan	drop `る` + `させる`	食たべる → 食たべさせる
Godan	change ending to `あ` row + `せる`	読よむ → 読よませる
する	`させる`	する → させる
来くる	`こさせる`	来くる → こさせる

2b. Nuance of `に` vs `を`

Pattern	Typical nuance	Example
人`に`V-させる	give permission / allow / assign a non-physical task	子こどもに好すきな本ほんを選えらばせる
人`を`V-させる	make someone perform an action (stronger / more controlled)	学生がくせいを立たたせる

Example 7
先生せんせいは学生がくせいに作文さくぶんを書かかせました。
(Sensei wa gakusei ni sakubun o kakasemashita.)
The teacher had the students write an essay.

Example 8
母ははは私わたしを早はやく寝ねさせた。
(Haha wa watashi o hayaku nesaseta.)
My mother made me go to bed early.

2c. Key polite pattern: ～させてください

Used when you politely ask for permission.

Example 9
先さきに説明せつめいさせてください。
(Saki ni setsumei sasete kudasai.)
Please allow me to explain first.

Example 10
少すこし考かんがえさせてください。
(Sukoshi kangae sasete kudasai.)
Please give me a moment to think.

3. Causative-passive (使役受身形しえきうけみけい)

Meaning: the subject is forced by someone else to perform an action.

3a. Formulas

Conceptually: causative + passive

Type	Common form	Example
Ichidan	`～させられる`	食たべさせられる
Godan	`～あされる` (short) or `～あせられる` (long)	読よまされる / 読よませられる
する	`させられる`	する → させられる
来くる	`こさせられる`	来くる → こさせられる

In modern conversation, the short Godan forms (読まされる, 行かされる) are used very often.

3b. Usage examples

Example 11
子こどもの時とき、毎日まいにちピアノを練習れんしゅうさせられました。
(Kodomo no toki, mainichi piano o renshuu saseraremashita.)
As a child, I was made to practice piano every day.

Example 12
会議かいぎで長ながい報告ほうこくを読よまされて、疲つかれた。
(Kaigi de nagai houkoku o yomasarete, tsukareta.)
At the meeting I was made to read a long report—so tired.

Example 13
上司じょうしに週末しゅうまつも働はたらかされました。
(Joushi ni shuumatsu mo hatarakasaremashita.)
I was made to work even on the weekend by my boss.

4. Quick comparison: passive vs causative vs causative-passive

Pattern	Core meaning	Example	Translation
Passive	receives an action	私わたしは褒ほめられた	I was praised
Causative	make someone do something	母ははは私わたしに勉強べんきょうさせた	Mother made me study
Causative-passive	forced to do something	私わたしは母ははに勉強べんきょうさせられた	I was forced to study by my mother

～てください = ordinary polite request/command.
～させてください = ask permission to do something yourself.
～させられる = be forced to do something.

5. Mini dialogues

Dialogue 1: Office situation

A: 部長ぶちょうに資料しりょうを直なおさせられたよ。
(Buchou ni shiryou o naosaserareta yo.)
I was made to revise the materials by the manager.

B: えっ、また？
(E, mata?)
What, again?

A: うん。昨日きのうも残業ざんぎょうさせられた。
(Un. Kinou mo zangyou saserareta.)
Yeah. Yesterday I was made to work overtime too.

B: それは大変たいへんだね。
(Sore wa taihen da ne.)
That’s rough.

Dialogue 2: Classroom situation

Teacher: 今日きょうは全員ぜんいんに発表はっぴょうさせます。
(Kyou wa zenin ni happyou sasemasu.)
Today I will have everyone present.

Student: 先生せんせい、先さきに私わたしから話はなさせてください。
(Sensei, saki ni watashi kara hanasasete kudasai.)
Sensei, please allow me to speak first.

Teacher: いいですよ。では、始はじめてください。
(Ii desu yo. Dewa, hajimete kudasai.)
Sure. Please begin.

6. Common mistakes ⚠️

❌ Wrong	✅ Right	Note
読よむ → 読よめられる (passive)	読よむ → 読よまれる	Godan passive uses the `あ` row, not `え`
食たべれる (formal passive)	食たべられる	`食べれる` is common for casual potential, not formal passive
母ははは私わたしに寝ねるさせた	母ははは私わたしに寝ねさせた	Ichidan causative: drop `る` + `させる`
私わたしは上司じょうしに働はたらかせた (meant “was forced”)	私わたしは上司じょうしに働はたらかされた	For “was forced,” you need causative-passive
雨あめを降ふられた	雨あめに降ふられた	Suffering Passive marks the source of impact with `に`
説明せつめいしてください (when asking to speak yourself)	説明せつめいさせてください	`してください` asks someone else to do it, not permission for yourself

7. Mini JLPT practice (10 items)

Q1
Change to passive: 書かく

Answer: 書かかれる
Why: Godan く → か + れる.

Q2
Change to causative: 食たべる

Answer: 食たべさせる
Why: Ichidan: drop る + させる.

Q3
Translate: “I was praised by a friend.”

Answer: 私わたしは友達ともだちに褒ほめられた。
Why: Passive pattern: A は B に V-passive.

Q4
Translate: “The teacher made the student read.”

Answer: 先生せんせいは学生がくせいに読よませた。
Why: Causative of godan 読む → 読ませる.

Q5
Translate: “I was forced to take medicine.”

Answer: 薬くすりを飲のまされた。
Why: Forced = causative-passive.

Q6
Pick the best option for “Please allow me to explain.”
A. 説明せつめいしてください
B. 説明せつめいさせてください

Answer: B
Why: Asking permission for yourself = ～させてください.

Q7
Fix: 私わたしは雨あめを降ふられた。

Answer: 私わたしは雨あめに降ふられた。
Why: Source of impact in passive takes に.

Q8
Change to causative-passive: 行いく

Answer: 行いかされる / 行いかせられる
Why: Both short and long forms are used.

Q9
Translate: “That child was allowed to play until night.”

Answer: その子こは夜よるまで遊あそばせられた。
Why: Allowed / made to play by someone else (causative context).

Q10
Fill in: 会議かいぎで長ながく___。 (was forced to wait)

Answer: 待またされた
Why: 待つ → 待たされる for causative-passive.

8. Real-world case studies: office, school, and service

These contexts help the patterns stick because they appear so often.

Case A: Office email (informational passive)

Sentence:

この提案書ていあんしょは先週せんしゅう部長ぶちょうに確認かくにんされました。
(Kono teiansho wa senshuu buchou ni kakunin saremashita.)
This proposal document was reviewed by the manager last week.

Why passive: focus on the document and process status, not the doer.

Case B: Manager’s instruction (causative)

上司じょうしは新人しんじんに顧客こきゃくリストを更新こうしんさせました。
(Joushi wa shinjin ni kokyaku risuto o koushin sasemashita.)
The boss had the new hire update the client list.

Why causative: there is an instruction/authority relationship.

Case C: Implied coercion (causative-passive)

私わたしは急きゅうな対応たいおうで徹夜てつやさせられました。
(Watashi wa kyuu na taiou de tetsuya saseraremashita.)
I was forced to stay up all night because of an urgent response.

Nuance: the speaker bears a burden they did not fully choose.

Case D: Everyday Suffering Passive

電車でんしゃで隣となりの人ひとに足あしを踏ふまれて、痛いたかったです。
(Densha de tonari no hito ni ashi o fumarete, itakatta desu.)
On the train my foot was stepped on by the person next to me—it really hurt.

This sounds natural in Japanese because the focus is on the affected experience.

Case E: Professional permission request

先さきに結論けつろんを共有きょうゆうさせてください。
(Saki ni ketsuron o kyouyuu sasete kudasai.)
Please allow me to share the conclusion first.

This pattern is very safe in presentations, meetings, or formal discussion.

9. Quick checklist for choosing a pattern

When writing or speaking, run through this check:

Is my focus on “who receives the action”?
Use passive (受身形).
Is my focus on “who makes whom do something”?
Use causative (使役形).
Is my focus on “who is forced to act”?
Use causative-passive (使役受身形).
Is there a sense of harm or discomfort?
Consider Suffering Passive.
Am I asking permission for my own speech/action?
Use ～させてください.

Ready-to-use patterns

昨日きのう、先生せんせいに褒ほめられました。
(Kinou, sensei ni homeraremashita.)
Yesterday I was praised by the teacher.
母ははは私わたしに部屋へやを掃除そうじさせた。
(Haha wa watashi ni heya o souji saseta.)
Mother made me clean the room.
子こどもの頃ころ、毎日まいにち漢字かんじを書かかされた。
(Kodomo no koro, mainichi kanji o kakasareta.)
As a child, I was made to write kanji every day.
すみません、もう一度いちど説明せつめいさせてください。
(Sumimasen, mou ichido setsumei sasete kudasai.)
Sorry—please allow me to explain once more.

If you can tell these four sentences apart without hesitation, your passive-causative foundation is already much stronger than most early learners.

10. Independent production drills for accuracy

Use these drills to stop mixing passive, causative, and causative-passive.

Step 1: One verb, three patterns

Pick one verb, for example 読よむ, and make:

Passive: 私わたしは友達ともだちに本ほんを読よまれた。
Causative: 先生せんせいは学生がくせいに本ほんを読よませた。
Causative-passive: 学生がくせいは先生せんせいに本ほんを読よまされた。

Repeat with 5 different verbs: 書く, 待つ, 食べる, する, 行く.

Step 2: Add emotional context

Write two versions of a sentence:

neutral (just report a fact)
affected/inconvenienced (Suffering Passive)

Examples:

Neutral: 私わたしは課長かちょうに紹介しょうかいされた。
Affected: 急きゅうに呼よばれて、会議かいぎで発表はっぴょうさせられた。

With context, you choose the pattern by meaning, not only by formula.

Step 3: Special drill for `～させてください`

Write at least 5 permission sentences for professional situations:

ask permission to explain
ask permission to ask a question
ask permission to step out briefly
ask permission to delay an answer
ask permission to reconfirm

Example:

一点いってん、確認かくにんさせてください。
(Itten, kakunin sasete kudasai.)
Please allow me to confirm one point.

Evaluation targets

You pass the drill if you can:

change 10 verbs into all three patterns without notes,
write 5 natural Suffering Passive sentences,
make 5 polite permission requests with ～させてください.

These drills prepare the patterns for formal speaking and writing.

11. Contrast pairs you must master

To avoid mix-ups on exams or in fast conversation, memorize these contrast pairs:

褒められた vs 褒めさせた vs 褒めさせられた
The first means “was praised,” the second “made someone praise,” the third “was forced to praise.”
説明してください vs 説明させてください
The first asks someone else to explain; the second asks permission to explain yourself.
雨に降られた (Suffering Passive)
This is not a literal English-style passive translation. It is the Japanese pattern for an unpleasant impact.
学生に書かせた vs 学生を書かせた
Both can appear, but control nuance may shift with the verb and context.

Quick comprehension check

Change this sentence into three patterns:

部長ぶちょうが私わたしに報告ほうこくする。

If you can produce correct passive, causative, and causative-passive versions, the core skill of this article is solid.

12. Final recap in 3 steps

Keep these three steps as a quick alarm when writing:

Decide the viewpoint: receiver of the action, giver of instruction, or person being forced.
Choose the pattern: passive, causative, or causative-passive.
Check the agent particle (に) and the object: make sure the meaning is not reversed.

Short examples:

私わたしは先輩せんぱいに助たすけられた。
先輩せんぱいは私わたしに説明せつめいさせた。
私わたしは先輩せんぱいに説明せつめいさせられた。

These three sentences cover the whole chapter core. Fast recognition of the difference means a strong grammar base.

For a stronger reflex, read those three sentences every day for a week and swap subjects (I, a friend, a student, a staff member). Substitution practice keeps the patterns from getting mixed when you write quickly.

New vocabulary

Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji	Meaning	Type
受身形うけみけい	うけみけい	Ukemikei	Passive form	Term
使役形しえきけい	しえきけい	Shiekikei	Causative form	Term
使役受身形しえきうけみけい	しえきうけみけい	Shiekiukemikei	Causative-passive form	Term
迷惑めいわく	めいわく	Meiwaku	Inconvenience / nuisance	Noun/suru
褒ほめる	ほめる	Homeru	To praise	Verb
注意ちゅうい	ちゅうい	Chuui	Caution / scolding	Noun/suru
残業ざんぎょう	ざんぎょう	Zangyou	Overtime work	Noun/suru
発表はっぴょう	はっぴょう	Happyou	Presentation	Noun/suru
資料しりょう	しりょう	Shiryou	Materials / documents	Noun
訪おとずれる	おとずれる	Otozureru	To visit	Verb

Conclusion

Passive form highlights the party affected by the action.
Suffering Passive is a hallmark Japanese pattern for harmful impact.
Causative can mean make, let, or allow, depending on context.
Causative-passive (～させられる) is essential for “was forced to.”
Pattern ～させてください is must-know for polite classroom and office communication.

With these three patterns under control, you are better prepared for news, manager instructions, and more complex natural conversation.

Previous article: ← Relative Clauses
Next article: Volitional Form (Invitations) →