Passive & Causative Lesson 7
Mastering the Causative-Passive (使役受身) form to express being forced or made to do something against one's will.
Feeling Forced
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to do something you didn't want to do, simply because someone else made you? Perhaps a boss made you work overtime, or a teacher made you run laps in gym class.
The Causative-Passive Structure
The causative-passive form is used when the speaker is the target of someone else's command or pressure. It implies reluctance or annoyance.
Tip
Examples in Action
Observe how these sentences express being forced into an action.
私は母に野菜を食べさせられた。
I was made to eat vegetables by my mother.
部長に資料をコピーさせられた。
I was made to copy the documents by the manager.
Fill in the blank: 先生に宿題を＿＿＿＿。
- 書かせた
- ✓ 書かせられた
- 書く
- 書かれる
書かせられた (was made to write) is the causative-passive form, indicating the speaker was forced by the teacher.
Nuance and Usage
The causative-passive is distinct from the simple causative form.
Causative vs Causative-Passive
食べさせた
Made someone eat (active)
母が私に食べさせた
食べさせられた
Was made to eat (passive)
私は母に食べさせられた
Which sentence sounds more like a complaint about being forced?
- 部長に報告書を書かせました。
- ✓ 部長に報告書を書かされました。
The causative-passive (書かされました) explicitly emphasizes that the speaker was forced to perform the action against their will.
Advanced Notes
A few edge cases to keep in mind.
Shortened Forms
Lesson Summary
The causative-passive form (～させられる) is essential for expressing that you were forced to perform an action by someone else. It is a key tool for expressing reluctance or frustration in N3-level Japanese.