Introduction to the Passive Voice
The passive voice in Japanese is used to indicate that the subject is acted upon by someone or something else. It often expresses that the subject receives an action, sometimes with a nuance of inconvenience or adversity.
Unlike English, where passive sentences often emphasize the action or the object, Japanese passive sentences can also imply feelings such as being bothered or affected by an action.
็งใฏๅ ็ใซ่คใใใใพใใใ
Watashi wa sensei ni homeraremashita.
I was praised by the teacher.
ๅฝผใฏ็ฌใซๅใพใใใ
Kare wa inu ni kamareta.
He was bitten by a dog.
Formation of Passive Verbs
Passive forms are created differently depending on the verb group. Here is a summary of the conjugation patterns for the polite present passive form.
| Verb Type | Dictionary Form | Passive Form |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (Godan) | ๆธใ (kaku) | ๆธใใใ (kakareru) |
| Group 2 (Ichidan) | ้ฃในใ (taberu) | ้ฃในใใใ (taberareru) |
| Irregular | ใใ (suru) | ใใใ (sareru) |
| Irregular | ๆฅใ (kuru) | ๆฅใใใ (korareru) |
Note that the passive form is often the same as the potential form for ichidan verbs, but context will clarify the meaning.
ๅฝผใฏๅ้ใซ้ป่ฉฑใใใใใใใ
Kare wa tomodachi ni denwa o kakerareta.
He was called by a friend.
Usage and Functions of the Passive
The passive voice in Japanese serves several functions:
- Expressing that the subject is affected by an action: The subject experiences or receives the action.
- Indicating adversity or inconvenience: The passive can imply that the action was unwanted or troublesome.
- Politeness or indirectness: Sometimes passive softens expressions.
ๅญไพใ็ชใๅฃใใใใ
Kodomo ga mado o kowasareta.
The window was broken (and itโs troublesome for the child).
็งใฏๅฝผใซไปไบใๆไผใฃใฆใใใใพใใใ
Watashi wa kare ni shigoto o tetsudatte moraimashita.
I had him help me with my work. (Note: causative-passive can also express this)
Irregular Verbs and Exceptions
There are some irregular verbs and special cases in passive conjugation:
- ใใ (to do): Passive is ใใใ.
- ๆฅใ (to come): Passive is ๆฅใใใ (korareru).
- Potential vs Passive for Ichidan verbs: ้ฃในใใใ can mean both โcan eatโ and โbe eatenโ depending on context.
- Some Godan verbs have stem changes: For example ๆธใ โ ๆธใใใ.
่ฉฆ้จใฏๆๆฅใใใพใใ
Shiken wa ashita saremasu.
The exam will be conducted tomorrow.
The Causative-Passive Form
The causative-passive form combines causative and passive meanings to express being made to do something, often unwillingly. It is formed by conjugating the causative form into the passive.
This form often implies that the subject was forced or obliged to do an action by someone else.
| Verb | Causative Form | Causative-Passive Form |
|---|---|---|
| ๆธใ (kaku) | ๆธใใใ (kakaseru) | ๆธใใใใใ (kakaserareru) |
| ้ฃในใ (taberu) | ้ฃในใใใ (tabesaseru) | ้ฃในใใใใใ (tabesaserareru) |
ๅญไพใฏ่ฆชใซๅๅผทใใใใใใ
Kodomo wa oya ni benkyou saserareta.
The child was made to study by their parents.
Practice Examples
ๅฝผๅฅณใฏๅ้ใซ็งๅฏใ็ฅใใใใ
Kanojo wa tomodachi ni himitsu o shirareta.
She had her secret found out by a friend.
็งใฏๅ ็ใซ่ณชๅใ่ใใใพใใใ
Watashi wa sensei ni shitsumon o kikaremashita.
I was asked a question by the teacher.
ๅฝผใฏไธๅธใซไปไบใใใใใใใ
Kare wa joushi ni shigoto o yarasareta.
He was made to do work by his boss.
็งใฎใซใใณใฏ็ใพใใใ
Watashi no kaban wa nusumareta.
My bag was stolen.
Tips for Remembering Rules
- Remember that passive forms for godan verbs change the final -u sound to -a and add ใใ (e.g., ๆธใ โ ๆธใใใ).
- Ichidan verbs simply replace ใ with ใใใ (e.g., ้ฃในใ โ ้ฃในใใใ), but be careful with potential vs passive meanings.
- Irregular verbs ใใ and ๆฅใ have unique passive forms: ใใใ and ๆฅใใใ.
- The passive often carries a nuance of adversity or inconvenience; context is key to understanding.
- The causative-passive is longer but very useful to express โbeing made to doโ something, often against oneโs will.
- Practice by identifying the agent marked by ใซ in passive sentences; this helps in understanding who performs the action.