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.
私は先生に褒められました。
Watashi wa sensei ni homeraremashita.
I was praised by the teacher.
彼は犬に噛まれた。
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) | 書く (kaku) | 書かれる (kakareru) |
| Group 2 (Ichidan) | 食べる (taberu) | 食べられる (taberareru) |
| Irregular | する (suru) | される (sareru) |
| Irregular | 来る (kuru) | 来られる (korareru) |
Note that the passive form is often the same as the potential form for ichidan verbs, but context will clarify the meaning.
彼は友達に電話をかけられた。
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.
子供が窓を壊された。
Kodomo ga mado o kowasareta.
The window was broken (and it’s troublesome for the child).
私は彼に仕事を手伝ってもらいました。
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:
- する (to do): Passive is される.
- 来る (to come): Passive is 来られる (korareru).
- Potential vs Passive for Ichidan verbs: 食べられる can mean both “can eat” and “be eaten” depending on context.
- Some Godan verbs have stem changes: For example 書く → 書かれる.
試験は明日されます。
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 書く (kaku) | 書かせる (kakaseru) | 書かせられる (kakaserareru) |
| 食べる (taberu) | 食べさせる (tabesaseru) | 食べさせられる (tabesaserareru) |
子供は親に勉強させられた。
Kodomo wa oya ni benkyou saserareta.
The child was made to study by their parents.
Practice Examples
彼女は友達に秘密を知られた。
Kanojo wa tomodachi ni himitsu o shirareta.
She had her secret found out by a friend.
私は先生に質問を聞かれました。
Watashi wa sensei ni shitsumon o kikaremashita.
I was asked a question by the teacher.
彼は上司に仕事をやらされた。
Kare wa joushi ni shigoto o yarasareta.
He was made to do work by his boss.
私のカバンは盗まれた。
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 れる (e.g., 書く → 書かれる).
- Ichidan verbs simply replace る with られる (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる), but be careful with potential vs passive meanings.
- Irregular verbs する and 来る have unique passive forms: される and 来られる.
- 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 “being made to do” something, often against one’s will.
- Practice by identifying the agent marked by に in passive sentences; this helps in understanding who performs the action.