Japanese Grammar: させられる (Saserareru) – The Causative-Passive Form

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Japanese Grammar: させられる (Saserareru) – The Causative-Passive Form
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To be made to do something / To be forced to do something.

🎯 Primary Function

Combines the causative (making someone do something) and passive (something being done to you) to show the subject was forced into an action.

📋 Grammar Structure

Group 1: [V-nai stem] + せられる (or される); Group 2: [V-stem] + させられる; Group 3: する→させられる, くる→こさせられる
Not applicable to adjectives.
Not applicable to adjectives.
Verb (Causative-Passive Stem) + ない / ませんでした

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used when reporting tasks or experiences that were required by a company or institution.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common when complaining to friends about chores or things you didn’t want to do.

✍️ Written Language

Used in essays or literature to describe involuntary actions or deep reflections.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Commonly shortened for Group 1 verbs (e.g., 飲まされる instead of 飲ませられる).

💡 Common Applications

Expressing Coercion
Used when someone in authority or with influence forces you to perform an action against your will.
Example: 仕事を残らされました。(I was made to stay late for work.)
Expressing Spontaneous Emotion
Used when an external stimulus naturally causes you to feel or think something (e.g., being moved, being made to think).
Example: 彼の言葉に考えさせられました。(His words made me think.)
📊
Frequency
High in daily conversation to express complaints or social pressures.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N4 (Intermediate)
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N4 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N4 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
母に部屋を掃除させられました。
Furigana: ははにへやをそうじさせられました。
Romaji: Haha ni heya o souji saseraremashita.
English: I was made to clean my room by my mother.
Example #2
先生に一時間も待たされました。
Furigana: せんせいにいちじかんもまたされました。
Romaji: Sensei ni ichijikan mo matasaremashita.
English: The teacher made me wait for an hour. (I was forced to wait)
Example #3
子供の頃、毎日ピアノを練習させられました。
Furigana: こどものころ、まいにちピアノをれんしゅうさせられました。
Romaji: Kodomo no koro, mainichi piano o renshuu saseraremashita.
English: When I was a child, I was made to practice the piano every day.
Example #4
上司にお酒をたくさん飲まされました。
Furigana: じょうしにおさけをたくさんのまされました。
Romaji: Joushi ni osake o takusan nomasaremashita.
English: I was forced to drink a lot of alcohol by my boss.
Example #5
嘘をついて、父に謝らされました。
Furigana: うそをついて、ちちにあやまらされました。
Romaji: Uso o tsuite, chichi ni ayamararemashita.
English: I was made to apologize to my father for telling a lie.
Example #6
学生たちは難しい宿題をさせられました。
Furigana: がくせいたちはむずかしいしゅくだいをさせられました。
Romaji: Gakuseitachi wa muzukashii shukudai o saseraremashita.
English: The students were made to do difficult homework.
Example #7
映画を見て、命について考えさせられました。
Furigana: えいがをみて、いのちについてかんがえさせられました。
Romaji: Eiga o mite, inochi ni tsuite kangaesaseraremashita.
English: Watching the movie made me think about life. (I was made to think)
Example #8
兄に重い荷物を持たされました。
Furigana: あにおもいにもつをもたされました。
Romaji: Ani ni omoi nimotsu o motasaremashita.
English: I was made to carry heavy luggage by my older brother.
Example #9
嫌いな野菜を食べさせられました。
Furigana: きらいなやさいをたべさせられました。
Romaji: Kirai na yasai o tabesaseraremashita.
English: I was forced to eat vegetables that I dislike.
Example #10
故障したので、駅まで歩かされました。
Furigana: こしょうしたので、えきまであるかされました。
Romaji: Koshou shita node, eki made arukasaremashita.
English: Because of the breakdown, I was forced to walk to the station.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

The Particle ‘Ni’ (に)
The person who forces the action is marked with the particle ‘ni’.
Example: 先生に走らされた。(I was made to run by the teacher.)
Emotional Influence
It isn’t always about literal force; it can describe things that ‘make you feel’ a certain way.
Example: 感動させられた。(I was moved/made to be impressed.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 話さされた (Hanasasareta)
✅ 話させられた (Hanasaserareta)
Verbs ending in ‘su’ (Group 1) do not use the shortened ~される form to avoid confusion with the regular passive. You must use ~saserareru.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: The form itself is neutral, but the context often implies a negative experience or complaint.
Social Situations: Often used in hierarchical relationships (boss/employee, parent/child, teacher/student).
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese uses the shortened form frequently, whereas some dialects may favor the full version or specific regional variants.

🔍 Subtle Differences

させられる vs させる
‘Saseru’ is causative (you make someone else do), while ‘Saserareru’ is causative-passive (someone makes YOU do).
When to use: Use ‘Saserareru’ when you are the one doing the action unwillingly.

📝 Conjugation Notes

For Group 1 verbs, the shortened form ‘~asare-ru’ is much more common than the full ‘~asere-rare-ru’, except for verbs ending in ‘su’. For Group 2, always use ‘~saserare-ru’.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The long ‘saserareru’ can be a tongue twister. Practice the rhythmic ‘sa-se-ra-re-ru’ slowly before speeding up.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as ‘Causative (to make) + Passive (to be)’. You ‘are made’ to do something. For Group 1, think of the ‘a’ sound: Iku -> Ik-a-sareru.

Other Grammar

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