Meaning & Usage
The 使役形 (shieki-kei), or causative form, allows you to describe situations where one person influences another's actions. In English, we translate this as either "to make someone do" or "to let someone do." Whether it indicates a command or permission depends on the context and the relationship between the speakers.
Think of the causative form as a way to shift the source of an action. Instead of saying "I studied," you are explaining that someone else prompted that action. Japanese culture often emphasizes social boundaries and hierarchy. Therefore, a person of higher status, such as a boss or a parent, typically uses this form toward someone of lower status.
There are three main ways to use the causative form:
Compulsion: Forcing or instructing someone to do something (e.g., a teacher making a student clean).
Permission: Allowing someone to do what they want (e.g., a parent letting a child play).
Emotional Causative: Causing someone to feel an emotion (e.g., making a friend sad or happy).
This form is a gateway to intermediate Japanese. It also serves as the foundation for the causative-passive form and many humble expressions.
Structure & Formation
Conjugating verbs into the causative form is straightforward. Once conjugated, all causative verbs function as Group 2 (Ichidan) verbs, meaning they follow the same rules as taberu or miru.
1. Group 1 Verbs (U-Verbs)
Change the final [u] vowel to the [a] column and add せる. If the verb ends in a plain [u], change it to [wa].
| Dictionary Form | Causative Form | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 書く (kaku) | 書かせる (kakaseru) | Make/let write |
| 行く (iku) | 行かせる (ikaseru) | Make/let go |
| 話す (hanasu) | 話させる (hanasaseru) | Make/let speak |
| 買う (kau) | 買わせる (kawaseru) | Make/let buy |
| 待つ (matsu) | 待たせる (mataseru) | Make/let wait |
2. Group 2 Verbs (Ru-Verbs)
Remove the final る and add させる.
| Dictionary Form | Causative Form | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 食べる (taberu) | 食べさせる (tabesaseru) | Make/let eat |
| 見る (miru) | 見させる (misaseru) | Make/let see |
| 寝る (neru) | 寝させる (nesaseru) | Make/let sleep |
3. Irregular Verbs
Only two verbs follow an irregular pattern. These must be memorized.
| Dictionary Form | Causative Form | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| する (suru) | させる (saseru) | Make/let do |
| 来る (kuru) | 来させる (kosaseru) | Make/let come |
Particle Rules
The hardest part for many students is choosing the right particle. The rule depends on whether the original verb is intransitive or transitive.
Intransitive Verbs (No direct object): The person being influenced is marked with を (wo).
Example: Tanaka-san wo ikaseru (Make/let Tanaka go).
Transitive Verbs (Has a direct object): The person being influenced is marked with に (ni). This avoids having two "wo" particles in the same sentence.
Example: Tanaka-san ni hon wo yomaseru (Make/let Tanaka read a book).
Example Sentences
Compulsion (Making someone do something)
先生は学生に宿題をたくさんさせました。
sensei wa gakusei ni shukudai wo takusan sasemashita.
The teacher made the students do a lot of homework.
コーチは選手を走らせました。
koochi wa senshu wo hashirasemashita.
The coach made the athletes run.
Permission (Letting someone do something)
父は私を一人で旅行にいかせました。
chichi wa watashi wo hitori de ryokou ni ikasemashita.
My father let me go on a trip by myself.
先生は私に早く帰らせてくれました。
sensei wa watashi ni hayaku kaerasete kuremashita.
The teacher let me go home early (and I appreciated it).
Emotional Causative
合格のニュースで両親を喜ばせたいです。
goukaku no nyuusu de ryoushin wo yorokobasetaidesu.
I want to make my parents happy with the news that I passed.
Common Mistakes
1. Wrong Particles with Intransitive Verbs
❌ 子供に行かせます。
✅ 子供を行かせます。
When there is no direct object in the sentence, the person performing the action takes を. Many students default to に because they associate it with giving orders.
2. Improperly Conjugating Vowel-Ending Verbs
❌ 買あせる (kaaseru)
✅ 買わせる (kawaseru)
For Group 1 verbs ending in "u," the vowel becomes "wa" before adding "seru." This is the same logic used for negative forms like kawanai.
3. Sounding Bossy to Superiors
❌ 部長を待たせました。
✅ 部長をお待たせしました。
Using the causative form with a boss or teacher can sound aggressive. It implies you have power over them. Unless you are using the humble ~sasete itadaku, avoid using this form to describe a superior's actions.
Cultural Notes
Hierarchy plays a major role in how you use this form. Because it implies a power dynamic, native speakers use it carefully. You will often see parents using it for their children's chores or lessons. In these cases, it shows a sense of guidance and responsibility.
The causative form is also common in apologies. A phrase like "心配させて、ごめん" (Sorry for making you worry) is very natural. It shows that the speaker acknowledges they caused the other person's distress, which helps maintain social harmony (wa).
Related Grammar Points
- Sequence and Starting Points: Using てから (te kara) (Grammar N4)
- The Grammar of Appearance: Using ～そうだ (Grammar N4)
- Mastering the Japanese Conditional: ~たら (If / When) (Grammar N4)
- Bakari (ばかり) — Just Did, Nothing But (Grammar N4)
- ように (You ni) — So That, In Order To (Grammar N4)
- Understanding はずだ: Expressing Logical Expectations (Grammar N4)
JLPT Tips
The JLPT N4 exam frequently tests the に vs を particle choice. First, look at the verb. If it's a transitive verb (like taberu or yomu), check for the に particle marking the person. If it's intransitive (like iku or neru), look for を.
In reading sections, always identify who is performing the physical action. In a causative sentence, the person marked with に or を is the one doing the work. The person marked with は or が is the one giving the order or permission.