Japanese grammar
What does 使役受身 (causative-passive) mean? Japanese grammar N4
使役受身 (causative-passive) means be made to ~ (against one's will).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | A は B に V (causative-passive) |
| Romaji | shieki-ukemi |
| Meaning | be made to ~ (against one's will) |
Forming it
| Memory trick | Conjugate the causative first (のませる), then conjugate the passive on top (のませられる) — because after causative it's always group 2 |
|---|---|
| Group 1 (godan) | あ-row + される (contracted form): のむ → のまされる、まつ → またされる、かく → かかされる. Full form: のませられる |
| Group 2 (ichidan) | Drop る and add させられる: たべる → たべさせられる |
| Group 3 (irregular) | する → させられる、くる → こさせられる |
| Group 1 ending in す | CANNOT be contracted: はなす → はなさせられる (there is no はなさされる) |
How to use it
Describing being made by someone above you to do something you don't want to do — always carries a nuance of displeasure.
- This is the hardest form in N4 because it stacks two layers: causative + passive. It means "someone else made me do it, and I didn't want to". The subject is the person being MADE to do it; the person giving the order takes に.
- The nuance is always NEGATIVE. This is what distinguishes it from the plain causative: 「母は私に野菜を食べさせました」 is told from the mother's point of view (neutral), while 「私は母に野菜を食べさせられました」 is told from my point of view — carrying the feeling "I hate vegetables but had to eat them anyway".
- The contracted form ～される is used more in conversation with group 1 verbs: 「飲まされた」 sounds more natural than 「飲ませられた」. HOWEVER, group 1 verbs ending in す cannot be contracted (because it would become さされる, which is hard to pronounce) — 話す only has 話させられる.
- The easiest way to conjugate is in two steps: conjugate the causative first, getting a group 2 verb ending in せる; then conjugate the passive of that group 2 verb (drop る, add られる) → せられる. Then contract it afterward if possible.
Examples
子供の時、母に毎日ピアノを練習させられました。
When I was a child, my mother made me practice piano every day.
駅で1時間も待たされました。
I was made to wait a whole hour at the station.
昨日、部長にお酒をたくさん飲まされて、頭が痛いです。
Yesterday my boss made me drink a lot, so my head hurts.
Keep in mind
- Because it's always negative, this pattern often appears with 待たされる (made to wait), 飲まされる (forced to drink), 働かされる (forced to work).
- Don't use this pattern when you're happy to do the action.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong私は母に野菜を食べさせさせられました。
I was made to eat vegetables by my mother.
Correct私は母に野菜を食べさせられました。
Over-conjugation: 食べる → causative 食べさせる → passive 食べさせられる. There is no doubled させ conjugation (食べさせさせられる) — it has one extra させ layer.
-
Wrong先生に作文を書かさせられました。
I was made to write an essay by my teacher.
Correct先生に作文を書かされました。／先生に作文を書かせられました。
Over-conjugation. 書く → causative 書かせる → passive 書かせられる → contracted 書かされる. There is no form 書かさせられる. This error comes from vaguely remembering "you have to add さ" without going through the two conjugation steps.
Exam tips
- Remember the exception: group 1 verbs ending in す (話す、貸す、出す) do NOT have a contracted form — only 話させられる.
- The default subject is 私 and the emotion is always negative — use this to eliminate wrong answers.