Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
The passive voice in Japanese, where the subject receives the action of the verb.
🎯 Primary Function
To shift focus from the doer of the action to the receiver, to express suffering or inconvenience caused by an action (迷惑の受身), to report facts or describe events where the doer is unknown or unimportant.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb conjugation varies by group: * **Group 1 (う-verbs):** Change the final う-vowel sound to あ, and add -れる.
* Example: 書く (kaku) -> 書かれる (kakareru)
* Example: 読む (yomu) -> 読まれる (yomareru)
* Exception: ある (aru) does not have a passive form in this sense. * **Group 2 (る-verbs):** Drop る and add -られる.
* Example: 見る (miru) -> 見られる (mirareru)
* Example: 食べる (taberu) -> 食べられる (taberareru) * **Group 3 (Irregular verbs):**
* する (suru) -> される (sareru)
* 来る (くる – kuru) -> 来られる (こられる – korareru) **Sentence Structure:** * [Thing/Person Receiving Action] は/が [Doer of Action] に/から/によって [Passive Verb Form].
* For indirect passive (迷惑の受身):
* [Sufferer] は/が [Doer of Action] に [Affected Object] を [Passive Verb Form].
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Frequently used, especially for reporting facts, events, or in official/academic writing.
Informal Situations
Used, but sometimes the active voice or other structures are preferred. Can be used informally to express suffering.
Written Language
Very common in news articles, reports, academic texts, and formal documents.
Spoken Language
Used in various situations, including describing unfortunate events or reporting facts.
💡 Common Applications
Focusing on the receiver of the action
When you want to emphasize who or what was affected by the action, rather than who did it.
Example: 私は先生に褒められました。 (I was praised by the teacher.)
Expressing suffering or inconvenience (迷惑の受身)
Used to describe a situation where the subject suffered or was inconvenienced by someone else’s action, often done to something the subject possesses or is related to.
Example: 雨に降られて、洗濯物が濡れた。 (Because it rained, my laundry got wet. Lit: I was rained upon, and my laundry got wet.)
Reporting facts, events, or discoveries
When the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context, or when describing general truths or common knowledge.
Example: この本は多くの人に読まれています。 (This book is read by many people.)
Frequency
Very frequent and essential for natural Japanese communication, especially beyond beginner level.
Difficulty
Medium. The conjugation rules require memorization, and understanding the nuances of the indirect passive and particle usage can be tricky initially.
Example Sentences
私は先生に褒められました。
I was praised by the teacher.
この絵は有名な画家に描かれました。
This painting was painted by a famous artist.
母に早く寝なさいと言われました。
I was told by my mother to go to bed early.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Direct Passive vs. Indirect Passive (迷惑の受身)
The direct passive focuses on the subject being acted upon. The indirect passive (迷惑の受身) is used when the subject is inconvenienced or suffers due to an action performed on something related to them.
Example: Direct: 私は犬に噛まれた。 (I was bitten by a dog.)
Indirect: 私は犬に手を噛まれた。 (My hand was bitten by a dog. Implies suffering.)
Particles に, から, and によって
に is the most common particle for animate agents. から can be used for agents, often when the source is less direct or in formal contexts. によって is typically used for inanimate forces, methods, or in formal/written contexts, indicating “by means of” or “due to”.
Example: 人に言われる (told by a person)
会社から命令される (ordered from the company)
地震によって建物が壊された (The building was destroyed by the earthquake)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect conjugation for Group 1 verbs
✅ Changing the final う vowel sound to あ and adding れる.
Many learners incorrectly add られる to Group 1 verbs, confusing them with Group 2.
❌ Confusing Passive (-られる) and Potential (-られる) forms for Group 2 verbs.
✅ Context is key to differentiating. Passive indicates being acted upon, Potential indicates capability.
見られる can mean “to be seen” (passive) or “can see” (potential). Pay attention to the surrounding particles and meaning.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Passive form itself isn’t inherently polite or impolite, but its usage can imply politeness (objectivity in formal contexts) or subtly express complaint/suffering (in informal contexts).
Social Situations: Used widely. The indirect passive is particularly used to express a sense of being a victim or suffering from another’s actions, which can be culturally nuanced.
Regional Variations: Conjugation rules are standard. Regional variations might exist more in the *frequency* or *specific contexts* of the indirect passive, but the core grammar is universal.
🔍 Subtle Differences
Passive form (-れる/-られる) vs. Potential form (-れる/-られる)
Passive: subject receives the action. Potential: subject has the ability to perform the action.
When to use: Use passive when the subject is the receiver. Use potential when describing capability.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Group 1: う → あ + れる Group 2: Drop る + られる Group 3: する → される, 来る → 来られる
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure correct vowel length before -られる for Group 2 verbs (e.g., ta-be-ra-reru). The -reru ending for Group 1 sounds similar to the potential form of Group 2, so context and the preceding vowel are important.
🧠 Memory Tips
Group 1: “Ah, it happened to me!” (あ sound). Group 2: “Ra-reru, like a train engine” (られる sound). Visualize the action being done *to* the subject.
Practice Exercises
私は先生（ ）叱られました。正しい助詞を選んでください。
が
を
に
と
この歌は多くの人々（ ）歌われています。正しい助詞を選んでください。
が
を
に
と
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