れる・られる (passive)

passive form; passive voice

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The passive forms れる and られる are fundamental in Japanese for expressing actions received by someone or something. Unlike in English, where the passive is often used to depersonalize actions, in Japanese, the passive form frequently focuses on the subject's experience or perspective. This makes it highly versatile in various contexts, such as narration, politeness, or expressing inconvenience.

Passive forms can convey:

1. A neutral report of an action: Used to present actions objectively or describe facts, often in formal writing or speech.

2. A negative connotation of being inconvenienced: Highlights the subject's dissatisfaction or burden caused by an action.

3. A polite tone in indirect or formal contexts: Commonly used in business or respectful communication.

4. A subject's experience: Emphasize the perspective or experience of the subject, especially when they are directly impacted.

Structure

［る¹］Verb ￫見る + られる

［る⁵］Verb ￫座る + られる

［う］Verb ￫歌う + われる

［く］Verb ￫歩く + かれる

［す］Verb ￫話す + される

［つ］Verb ￫打つ + たれる

［ぬ］Verb ￫死ぬ + なれる

［ぶ］Verb ￫飛ぶ + ばれる

［む］Verb ￫休む + まれる

［ぐ］Verb ￫泳ぐ + がれる

Exceptions:

する → させる

くる → こられる

JLPT Level

Key uses

1. Emphasizing the receiver of the action

The passive form れる・られる highlights the person or object affected by an action, shifting the focus from the doer to the receiver.

[ Additional Insight ]

This form is useful for placing emphasis on the action's impact or the recipient of the action. It’s often seen in academic, formal, or literary contexts where the focus is on outcomes rather than the initiator.

2. Expressing inconvenience or suffering (suffering passive)

The passive form is often used to express that an action caused inconvenience, trouble, or emotional discomfort to the subject.

[ Additional Insight ]

This "suffering passive" adds a layer of emotional nuance, emphasizing the negative impact of the action on the speaker or subject. It’s a common way to subtly express frustration or annoyance without directly blaming someone.

3. Reporting actions in a neutral tone

Passive constructions are used to report actions objectively or neutrally, especially in news, academic writing, or formal reports.

[ Additional Insight ]

This usage makes the sentence sound formal and detached, which is ideal for professional or informational contexts. It removes unnecessary focus on the doer, aligning with a tone of impartiality.

4. Polite and indirect requests

The passive form can be used to make statements sound more polite or humble, softening the tone of the speaker’s words.

[ Additional Insight ]

This form allows the speaker to highlight respect or gratitude toward the doer of the action. It’s commonly used in hierarchical or formal relationships, such as in schools or workplaces.

5. Avoiding explicitly naming the doer

The passive voice allows the speaker to omit mentioning who performed the action, which can be useful in situations where the doer is unknown or irrelevant.

[ Additional Insight ]

This omission is particularly useful when discussing general actions, sensitive topics, or when the speaker wants to avoid assigning blame. It creates a more neutral or vague statement, focusing on the action or result rather than the agent.

Comparisons

1. Active Voice

The active voice emphasizes the doer of the action, while the passive voice shifts focus to the recipient of the action or its effect. Use the passive voice to highlight the object or person being acted upon, especially when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

2. Causative-Passive (させられる)

While passive forms describe being affected by an action, causative-passive forms describe being forced to do something by someone else. Use the causative-passive when you want to express involuntary actions or obligations imposed by others.