れる・られる (Passive)
Was done to ~ by ~, Done without consent, Done to one's dismay
Structure
［る1］Verb ￫ 見
［る⁵］Verb ￫ 座
［う］Verb ￫ 歌
［く］Verb ￫ 歩
［す］Verb ￫ 話
［つ］Verb ￫ 打
［ぬ］Verb ￫ 死
［ぶ］Verb ￫ 飛
［む］Verb ￫ 休
［ぐ］Verb ￫ 泳
Exceptions:
する→される
くる→こられる
Explanation
To talk about things that happen to someone or something in Japanese, a structure known as the passive voice is used. This is achieved with the auxiliary verbs れる and られる. The Japanese passive form functions somewhat differently from its English counterpart, a topic we will explore in more detail later. For now, our focus will be on forming the passive with れる, られる, and its irregular form for する verbs, される.
In a Japanese passive sentence, the entity being affected by the action becomes the grammatical subject. This is in contrast to an active sentence, where the one performing the action is the subject.
All Japanese verbs can be changed into the passive form using these rules. For う-Verbs (godan verbs), change the final mora's vowel sound from 'u' to 'a' (e.g., く becomes か, む becomes ま, and う becomes わ, similar to the ない-form), and then attach れる. For る-Verbs (ichidan verbs), simply drop the final る and add られる.
- みんなに笑われるのが恥かしいから、歌いたくない。I don't want to sing because it's embarrassing to be laughed at by everyone.
- 先生に褒められると、嬉しくなります。I feel happy whenever I am praised by my teacher.
The verbs する and くる are irregular and do not follow the patterns of other verbs. する becomes される in the passive form, and くる becomes こられる.
- 好きな人に無視をされるのがつらい。It's painful to be ignored by someone you like.
- デート中に親に来られると焦る。I panic when my parents show up during my date.
In the above sentences, you can see that the performer of the action is marked by the particle に. However, から may be used instead, particularly when the action does not involve direct physical contact with the subject.
Caution
The form られる has several distinct functions in Japanese. They are outlined here:
Passive: 受け身 - Indicates that the subject is affected by an action from an external source (this can carry a negative connotation).
Possible: 可能 - Expresses that it is possible for an action to be done.
Spontaneous: 自発 - Describes an action or feeling that arises naturally on its own.
Respectful: 尊敬 - Used to show deference toward the subject by elevating their action.
Fun Fact
The Japanese passive often emphasizes that the subject has no control over the situation. For this reason, the subject is sometimes referred to as the なる人 (the one it happens to), and the agent as the する人 (the one who does it).
While most textbooks refer to this form as the 'passive' due to its similarity to the English equivalent, we prefer to also use the term 'displacement verb'. This name reflects how the focus of the sentence is shifted, in a way that is similar to what occurs in keigo (honorific language).
Caution
What about using れる with る-Verbs? In conversational Japanese, so-called 'ra-dropped words' (ラ抜き言葉) are extremely common. This is when verbs that should use られる are shortened to just れる. While the meaning of these two auxiliary verbs is the same in this context, 'ra' cannot always be dropped. The rule is quite simple.
'Ra' may be dropped - For る-Verbs and くる when expressing the 'possible' meaning.
'Ra' may not be dropped - For る-Verbs and くる when expressing 'passive', 'spontaneous', or 'respectful' meanings.
- 私は納豆も食べれます。I can eat natto, too.
- 私は納豆も食べられる。I am able to eat natto, too.
Both of the above sentences carry the exact same meaning. However, ラ抜き is only acceptable when られる is used to indicate 'possibility'.
Examples
私の大事な本を母に捨てられた。
My important book was thrown away by my mother.
先生に難しい質問を聞かれた。
I was asked a difficult question by my teacher.
私は田中さんにパーティーに誘われた。
I was invited to a party by Tanaka-san.
仕事でミスをした。上司に叱られるに違いない。
I made a mistake at work. I'm sure I'm going to be scolded by my boss.
皆に笑われても、自分の夢をあきらめない。
Even if I'm laughed at by everyone, I won't give up on my dream.
電車で知らない人に足を踏まれた。
My foot was stepped on by a stranger on the train.
昨日、公園で犬に噛まれた。まだ痛い。
Yesterday, I was bitten by a dog at the park. It still hurts.
弟に勝手に私のパソコンを使われた。
My little brother used my computer without my permission.
傘を持っていなかった日に、雨に降られた。
On a day I didn't have my umbrella, I got caught in the rain.
夫にお気に入りのカップを割られた。
My husband broke my favorite cup.
駅で財布が盗まれたので、すぐ警察に電話した。
My wallet was stolen at the station, so I called the police right away.
先輩に手伝いを頼まれたので、断れなかった。
I was asked for help by a senior colleague, so I couldn't refuse.