Lesson 19: Passive & Causative Forms

Passive Form (れる / られる)

The passive form in Japanese is used when the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performs it. It corresponds to English passive sentences like "The book was read" or "I was praised."

Formation Rules

Group 1 (う-Verbs)

Change the final う sound to its あ sound equivalent + れる

Group 2 (る-Verbs)

Replace る with られる

Group 3 (Irregular Verbs)

• する → される (sareru)
• 来くる → 来こられる (korareru)

Uses of the Passive Form

1. Actions received from others

2. Unpleasant experiences (suffering passive)

3. General statements about things happening

Passive Sentence Structure

1. The person receiving the action becomes the subject (marked by は/が)
2. The person performing the action is marked by に
3. The verb is in its passive form

Cultural Note:
In Japanese culture, the passive form is often used to avoid directly stating who performed an action, especially in situations where assigning blame might disrupt harmony. This reflects the cultural value of maintaining smooth interpersonal relationships. The passive form is also commonly used in formal writing, such as news reports and academic papers, to maintain an objective tone.

Causative Form (せる / させる)

The causative form in Japanese expresses making or allowing someone to do something. It can indicate either forcing an action or giving permission, depending on context.

Formation Rules

Group 1 (う-Verbs)

Change the final う sound to its あ sound equivalent + せる

Group 2 (る-Verbs)

Replace る with させる

Group 3 (Irregular Verbs)

• する → させる (saseru)
• 来くる → 来こさせる (kosaseru)

Uses of the Causative Form

1. Making someone do something

2. Letting/allowing someone to do something

3. Having someone do something (neutral)

Causative Sentence Structure

There are two common patterns:

Pattern 1 (with を)

• Person being caused = を
• Used when the verb is intransitive (doesn't take an object)

Example:
子供こどもを寝ねさせる
(To make/let the child sleep)

Pattern 2 (with に)

• Person being caused = に
• Object of action = を
• Used when the verb is transitive (takes an object)

Example:
子供こどもに野菜やさいを食たべさせる
(To make/let the child eat vegetables)

Cultural Note:
The causative form reflects hierarchical relationships in Japanese society. It's commonly used in parent-child relationships, teacher-student interactions, and workplace scenarios where someone in authority directs others. The interpretation as "making" versus "letting" often depends on social context and the relationship between the people involved. In business settings, causative forms are often softened with additional phrases to avoid sounding too authoritarian.

Causative-Passive Form

The causative-passive form combines the causative and passive forms to express being made to do something against one's will or consent. It often implies a sense of inconvenience, obligation, or being imposed upon.

Formation Rules

Add the passive endings (られる) to the causative form:

Group 1 (う-Verbs)

Causative form + られる → Often contracted to される

Group 2 (る-Verbs)

Causative form + られる → Often contracted to される

Group 3 (Irregular Verbs)

• する → させられる
• 来くる → 来こさせられる

Uses of the Causative-Passive Form

1. Being forced to do something (unwillingly)

2. Being made to do something (obligation)

3. Having to endure an imposed situation

Causative-Passive Sentence Structure

1. The person being forced to do something becomes the subject (marked by は/が)
2. The person imposing the action is marked by に
3. The verb is in its causative-passive form

Cultural Note:
The causative-passive form is often used to express complaints or describe situations where one's autonomy is restricted. In Japanese society, where social harmony and hierarchy are important, this form provides a way to acknowledge these constraints while also expressing one's feelings about them. This construction is particularly common when discussing workplace dynamics, family obligations, or school requirements.

Giving and Receiving Verbs

Japanese has specialized verbs to express giving and receiving that depend on the directional flow relative to the speaker. These verbs work closely with passive and causative forms to create complex expressions of permission and assistance.

The Three Main Giving and Receiving Verbs

1. あげる (ageru) - To give to others

Used when the speaker or someone in their group gives to an outsider.

2. くれる (kureru) - To give to me/us

Used when an outsider gives to the speaker or someone in their group.

3. もらう (morau) - To receive from someone

Used when the speaker or someone in their group receives from anyone.

Basic Usage Patterns

Giving Patterns (あげる/くれる)

• Person giving + は
• Person receiving + に
• Thing given + を
• Verb (あげる/くれる)

Receiving Pattern (もらう)

• Person receiving + は
• Person giving + から/に
• Thing received + を
• Verb (もらう)

Combined with TE-form: Permission and Assistance

These verbs can combine with the te-form of other verbs to create expressions about doing things for others or being allowed to do things:

〜てあげる (doing for someone else's benefit)

〜てくれる (someone does something for the speaker's benefit)

〜てもらう (having someone do something / being allowed to do something)

Cultural Note:
The choice between あげる, くれる, and もらう reflects the Japanese concept of uchi (inside group) and soto (outside group). The correct usage depends on understanding the relationship between the giver, receiver, and the speaker's position. Using the wrong verb can cause confusion or sound unnatural. These verbs are essential for expressing gratitude and recognizing the psychological direction of favors or gifts, which is a key aspect of Japanese social interaction.

Combining Passive, Causative, and Giving/Receiving

In Japanese, the passive, causative, and giving/receiving forms can be combined to create complex expressions with nuanced meanings. These combinations allow speakers to express detailed relationships of permission, obligation, benefit, and imposition.

Common Combinations and Their Meanings

1. Causative + てあげる: Letting someone do something as a favor

2. Causative + てくれる: Someone allows you to do something

3. Causative + てもらう: Being allowed to do something

4. Passive + てしまう: Something unfortunate happens to you

5. てくれる + Passive Form: Someone does something for someone else in your group

Complex Sentence Structures

These combinations can create quite complex sentences. Here are some examples of how they work together:

Choosing the Right Combination

The choice between these combinations depends on:

• Who is performing the action
• Who is receiving the benefit or being affected
• The speaker's relationship to both parties
• Whether permission, obligation, or benefit is being expressed

Cultural Note:
These complex grammatical combinations reflect the importance in Japanese culture of acknowledging social relationships, hierarchy, and the flow of benefits or obligations between people. While they may seem complicated at first, they provide Japanese speakers with precise tools to express nuanced social interactions. In formal situations, mastering these combinations is essential for expressing appropriate levels of politeness and acknowledgment of others' actions.

Passive and Causative in Practical Situations

Let's examine how passive and causative forms are used in common real-life situations in Japan.

In the Workplace

Expressing Instructions and Requests

Talking About Work Experiences

In Family Settings

Talking About Children

Describing Household Dynamics

In Public Situations

Service Encounters

Polite Business Expressions

In business Japanese, certain fixed expressions using passive and causative forms are commonplace:

• お待またせしました
  (Omataseshimashita) - "Sorry to have kept you waiting"
• ご覧らんいただけますか
  (Goran itadakemasu ka) - "Would you mind taking a look?"
• お手伝てつだいさせていただきます
  (Otetsudai sasete itadakimasu) - "Allow me to help you"

Cultural Perspective:
The use of passive and causative forms in Japanese reflects broader cultural values about social harmony, respect for hierarchy, and the importance of acknowledging others' actions and influences. What might seem like complex grammar is actually a linguistic reflection of how Japanese society conceptualizes human relationships and the flow of actions between people.

Putting It All Together: Complex Conversations

Let's see how all these forms work together in natural dialogue.

Conversation: At the Office

A: 田中たなかさん、
昨日きのうの報告書ほうこくしょを読よませていただきました。
とても分わかりやすかったです。
(Tanaka-san, kinō no hōkokusho o yomasete itadakimashita. Totemo wakariyasukatta desu.)
"Ms. Tanaka, I took the liberty of reading your report from yesterday. It was very easy to understand."

B: ありがとうございます。先週せんしゅう、
山田やまださんに手伝てつだってもらいました。
(Arigatō gozaimasu. Senshū, Yamada-san ni tetsudatte moraimashita.)
"Thank you. Last week, I had Mr. Yamada help me."

A: そうですか。
来週らいしゅうの会議かいぎで
発表はっぴょうさせていただきたいのですが、
よろしいでしょうか。
(Sō desu ka. Raishū no kaigi de happyō sasete itadakitai no desu ga, yoroshii deshō ka.)
"I see. I would like to have you present at next week's meeting, would that be okay?"

B: はい、喜よろこんで。
ただ、資料しりょうを準備じゅんびする時間じかんをいただけますか？
(Hai, yorokonde. Tada, shiryō o junbi suru jikan o itadakemasu ka?)
"Yes, gladly. However, may I have some time to prepare the materials?"

A: もちろんです。
明日あしたまでに詳細しょうさいをお知しらせします。
無理むりさせてすみません。
(Mochiron desu. Ashita made ni shōsai o oshiraseshimasu. Muri sasete sumimasen.)
"Of course. I'll let you know the details by tomorrow. Sorry for imposing on you."

Conversation: Parent and Child

A: 宿題しゅくだいは終おわった？
(Shukudai wa owatta?)
"Have you finished your homework?"

B: まだです。
難むずかしくて時間じかんがかかっています。
(Mada desu. Muzukashikute jikan ga kakatte imasu.)
"Not yet. It's difficult and taking time."

A: 手伝てつだってあげようか？
(Tetsudatte ageyō ka?)
"Shall I help you?"

B: はい、お願ねがいします。
数学すうがくの問題もんだいが解とけません。
(Hai, onegai shimasu. Sūgaku no mondai ga tokemasen.)
"Yes, please. I can't solve the math problems."

A: 見みせてごらん。
あ、これは先生せんせいに教おしえてもらった
方法ほうほうで解とけるよ。
(Misete goran. A, kore wa sensei ni oshiete moratta hōhō de tokeru yo.)
"Let me see. Ah, you can solve this using the method that the teacher taught us."

B: 今度こんどから授業じゅぎょうでもっと
集中しゅうちゅうさせられますね。
(Kondo kara jugyō de motto shūchū saseraremasu ne.)
"From now on, I'll have to concentrate more in class."

A: そうだね。
今日きょうは早はやく寝ねさせるから、
明日あしたは元気げんきに学校がっこうに行いけるようにしよう。
(Sō da ne. Kyō wa hayaku nesaseru kara, ashita wa genki ni gakkō ni ikeru yō ni shiyō.)
"That's right. I'll have you go to bed early today so you can go to school energetically tomorrow."

Final Thought:
Passive and causative forms might seem challenging at first, but they're essential for expressing many everyday situations in Japanese. With practice, you'll find that they allow you to communicate more precisely about who is doing what to whom, and how people are affecting each other - a central concern in Japanese communication. These forms aren't just grammar points; they're windows into how Japanese culture conceptualizes human relationships and interactions.