を余儀なくさせる
Force to, To compel, Make unavoidable
Structure
Verb + こと + を余儀なくさせる
Explanation
Similar to を余儀なくされる, a formal expression meaning ‘to be forced to do (A)’, を余儀なくさせる is built on the same foundation. However, it employs the causative auxiliary verb させる, ‘to make/let do’, instead of the passive form される, ‘to be done to’.
This pattern is constructed from the adverbial particle を, the noun 余儀 meaning ‘another option’, the adverbial form of ない which is なく, and させる, the causative form of する. Put together, the literal meaning is ‘to make it so there is no other choice but to do (A)’.
を余儀なくさせる attaches to a noun (A), which represents the action that is being compelled or made necessary.
- 経済的な問題が、会社に事業の縮小を余儀なくさせた。Economic problems forced the company to scale back its operations.
- 突然の悪天候が、イベントの延期を余儀なくさせた。The sudden bad weather made it necessary to postpone the event.
- 深刻な怪我が、その選手に引退を余儀なくさせた。A severe injury compelled the athlete to retire.
In contrast to を余儀なくされる, the subject that causes the action in a sentence with を余儀なくさせる is typically an external event or circumstance, not a person, although exceptions do exist.
Fun Fact
Even though 余儀 and なく are technically two distinct words, the combination 余儀なく is commonly treated as a single adverb meaning ‘unavoidably’ or ‘inevitably’.
Examples
長引く不況は、その会社に事業を縮小することを余儀なくさせた。
The prolonged recession forced the company to scale down its operations.
深刻な怪我は、その選手に現役引退を余儀なくさせた。
The severe injury forced the athlete to retire from his professional career.
台風の接近は、イベントの中止を余儀なくさせた。
The approaching typhoon forced the cancellation of the event.
原料価格の高騰は、メーカーに製品を値上げすることを余儀なくさせた。
The sharp rise in raw material costs forced the manufacturer to raise the price of its products.
家族の病気が、彼に海外赴任を諦めることを余儀なくさせた。
A family illness forced him to give up on his overseas assignment.
予期せぬシステムダウンは、計画の大幅な変更を余儀なくさせ、現場に大きな混乱を招いた。
The unexpected system failure forced a major change in plans, causing great confusion on-site.