Meaning & Usage
The 受け身形 (ukemi-kei), or passive voice, lets you describe actions from the receiver's perspective. Instead of focusing on who did the action, you focus on who was affected by it. While English uses the passive voice for simple facts, like "The cake was eaten," Japanese passive often implies a specific feeling or impact on the person involved.
A key feature of Japanese is the "adversative passive," often called the "suffering passive." You use this when someone's action causes you trouble or inconvenience. For example, if it rains on you or a baby cries during your nap, you use the passive form to show you were negatively affected. Even if the action wasn't aimed at you, you are the "receiver" of the situation.
In formal settings, such as news reports or textbooks, the passive voice creates an objective tone. In daily life, however, it usually highlights the speaker's feelings about an event. For N4 learners, the biggest hurdle is identifying the "agent" (the person doing the action). Usually, the person affected is marked with は (wa) or が (ga), while the person doing the action is marked with に (ni).
Structure & Formation
Conjugation depends on the verb group. You will change the final vowel of the dictionary form and attach a specific suffix.
Group 1: U-Verbs (Godan Verbs)
For Group 1, change the final -u sound to the -a sound in the same row of the hiragana chart, then add れる (reru). If a verb ends in a plain う (u), it becomes わ (wa).
| Dictionary Form | Passive Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 書く (kaku) | 書かれる (kakareru) | To be written |
| 呼ぶ (yobu) | 呼ばれる (yobareru) | To be called |
| 言う (iu) | 言われる (iwareru) | To be told |
Group 2: Ru-Verbs (Ichidan Verbs)
For Group 2, remove the final る (ru) and add られる (rareru). Note that this looks exactly like the potential form ("can do"). You must rely on the context to tell them apart.
| Dictionary Form | Passive Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 食べる (taberu) | 食べられる (taberareru) | To be eaten |
| 褒める (homeru) | 褒められる (homerareru) | To be praised |
| 見る (miru) | 見られる (mirareru) | To be seen |
Group 3: Irregular Verbs
There are only two irregular verbs to remember.
| Dictionary Form | Passive Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| する (suru) | される (sareru) | To be done |
| 来る (kuru) | 来られる (korareru) | To be come (inconvenienced by someone coming) |
Example Sentences
Direct Passive (The Subject receives the action)
私は先生に褒められました。
watashi wa sensei ni homeraremashita.
I was praised by the teacher.
その会議は明日行われます。
sono kaigi wa ashita okonawaremasu.
That meeting will be held tomorrow.
弟は母に叱られました。
otouto wa haha ni shikararemashita.
My younger brother was scolded by my mother.
Indirect/Suffering Passive (Feeling inconvenienced)
昨日、雨に降られて、風邪をひきました。
kinou, ame ni furarete, kaze wo hikimashita.
It rained on me yesterday, and I caught a cold.
電車の中で、誰かに足を踏まれました。
densha no naka de, dareka ni ashi wo fumaremashita.
Someone stepped on my foot inside the train.
泥棒に財布を盗まれました。
dorobou ni saifu wo nusumaremashita.
I had my wallet stolen by a thief.
Passive for Famous Works (Objective)
When talking about historical facts, inventions, or art, we often use によって (ni yotte) to mark the creator.
この寺は４００年前に建てられました。
kono tera wa yonhyaku nen mae ni tateraremashita.
This temple was built 400 years ago.
この絵はピカソによって描かれました。
kono e wa pikaso ni yotte kakaremashita.
This picture was painted by Picasso.
Common Mistakes
1. Confusing Passive with Potential (Group 2)
Since Group 2 verbs look the same in both forms, context is your best friend. In the sentence below, focus on the speaker's ability.
✅ 納豆が食べられますか？ (Can you eat natto?)
If you meant "Is the natto being eaten?", the passive would be correct, but this is a rare question in daily life. Most listeners will assume you are asking about their ability to eat fermented beans.
2. Using the Wrong Particle for the "Doer"
In passive sentences, the person performing the action must be marked with に (ni). Avoid using を (wo) or は (wa) for the agent.
❌ 私は母を叱られました。
✅ 私は母に叱られました。
3. Forcing English-style Passive
In English, we often say "My cake was eaten." In Japanese, it is much more natural to say "I had my cake eaten (by someone)." Japanese speakers prioritize the person who feels the impact over the object itself.
Cultural Context
Japanese speakers often use the passive voice to avoid blaming someone directly. Instead of saying "You broke this computer," which sounds confrontational, a speaker might say "The computer was broken." This helps maintain politeness and avoids pointing fingers.
The suffering passive also shows high sensitivity to one's surroundings. By saying "I was rained on" (雨に降られた), you describe the rain as an external force that inconvenienced you. This adds a vivid, emotional layer to the story that a simple "it rained" doesn't convey.
Related Grammar Points
- Hearsay (I heard that): Souda (Grammar N4)
- Sequence and Starting Points: Using てから (te kara) (Grammar N4)
- Resultant State (Intentional) - Te-aru (Grammar N4)
- Mastering Japanese Obligations: なければならない (Grammar N4)
- Using かもしれない (kamoshirenai) to Express Possibility (Grammar N4)
- The Grammar of Appearance: Using ～そうだ (Grammar N4)
JLPT N4 Tips
The JLPT frequently tests particles in passive sentences. Always look for the に (ni) particle to identify the person who actually performed the action. If the subject is a person and the verb is passive, they are the one receiving the action.
Don't forget the Object + を pattern in the suffering passive. If a thief steals your bag, the sentence is: [Person] wa [Thief] ni [Bag] o [Passive Verb]. The bag remains the object marked by を. Memorizing this specific pattern is a huge advantage for the grammar section.