Japanese Passive Voice: Complete Guide to Formation and Usage
Introduction to Japanese Passive Voice
The passive voice in Japanese, known as 受身形 (ukemikei), is a grammatical construction that shifts the focus from the person performing an action to the person or thing receiving it. Understanding how to use passive voice in Japanese is essential for intermediate and advanced learners, as it appears frequently in everyday conversation, formal writing, and literature.
Unlike English, where passive voice is often discouraged in favor of active constructions, Japanese uses passive voice extensively. It serves several unique purposes beyond simply describing actions done to someone—it can express suffering, inconvenience, or even politeness.
Japanese has two main types of passive constructions:
- Direct passive (直接受身) - Similar to English passive, where the object of an active sentence becomes the subject
- Indirect passive (間接受身) - Unique to Japanese, expressing that someone was adversely affected by an action, even if they weren't the direct recipient
Formation: Japanese Passive Voice Conjugation
Mastering Japanese passive voice conjugation requires understanding how to transform verbs from their dictionary form into passive form. The conjugation rules differ depending on the verb group.
Group 1 Verbs (五段動詞 / Godan Verbs)
For Group 1 verbs, change the final -u sound to the corresponding -a sound, then add れる (reru).
| Dictionary Form | Stem Change | Passive Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 書く (kaku) | kak-a | 書かれる (kakareru) | to be written |
| 読む (yomu) | yom-a | 読まれる (yomareru) | to be read |
| 話す (hanasu) | hanas-a | 話される (hanasareru) | to be spoken |
| 待つ (matsu) | mat-a | 待たれる (matareru) | to be waited for |
| 飲む (nomu) | nom-a | 飲まれる (nomareru) | to be drunk |
| 取る (toru) | tor-a | 取られる (torareru) | to be taken |
Group 2 Verbs (一段動詞 / Ichidan Verbs)
For Group 2 verbs, simply remove る (ru) and add られる (rareru).
| Dictionary Form | Stem | Passive Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 食べる (taberu) | tabe- | 食べられる (taberareru) | to be eaten |
| 見る (miru) | mi- | 見られる (mirareru) | to be seen |
| 起きる (okiru) | oki- | 起きられる (okirareru) | to be woken up |
| 教える (oshieru) | oshie- | 教えられる (oshierareru) | to be taught |
Irregular Verbs
| 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 to |
Particle Changes in Passive Sentences
When converting active sentences to passive, particles change as follows:
- The original subject (doer) takes に (ni) or によって (ni yotte)
- The original object becomes the new subject and takes が (ga) or は (wa)
Usage: When and How to Use Passive Voice
Understanding how to use passive voice in Japanese goes beyond simple conjugation. There are several distinct situations where passive voice is preferred or required.
1. Direct Passive (Standard Passive)
Used when the object of an action becomes the focus, similar to English passive voice. This is common in formal writing, news reports, and academic texts.
この本は多くの人に読まれている。
(Kono hon wa ooku no hito ni yomarete iru.)
"This book is read by many people."
2. Indirect Passive (Suffering Passive / 迷惑の受身)
This uniquely Japanese construction expresses that someone was negatively affected by an action, even if they weren't the direct object. The subject experiences inconvenience, annoyance, or suffering.
電車で足を踏まれた。
(Densha de ashi wo fumareta.)
"I had my foot stepped on in the train." (I suffered from someone stepping on my foot)
3. Impersonal Passive
Used when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted. Common in formal announcements and written Japanese.
会議は来週行われます。
(Kaigi wa raishuu okonawaremasu.)
"The meeting will be held next week."
4. Respectful/Polite Expressions
Passive forms can indicate respect toward the subject, particularly with certain verbs.
先生が来られました。
(Sensei ga koraremashita.)
"The teacher has arrived." (respectful)
Examples: Japanese Passive Voice in Context
Here are practical example sentences demonstrating various uses of passive voice:
Example 1: Direct Passive
この映画は黒澤明によって作られた。
(Kono eiga wa Kurosawa Akira ni yotte tsukurareta.)
"This film was made by Akira Kurosawa."
Example 2: Indirect Passive (Suffering)
雨に降られて、濡れてしまった。
(Ame ni furarete, nurete shimatta.)
"I got rained on and became soaked." (The rain caused me suffering)
Example 3: Indirect Passive (Inconvenience)
彼女に泣かれて困った。
(Kanojo ni nakarete komatta.)
"She cried (on me) and I didn't know what to do." (Her crying caused me trouble)
Example 4: Impersonal Passive
日本では米がたくさん食べられている。
(Nihon de wa kome ga takusan taberarete iru.)
"A lot of rice is eaten in Japan."
Example 5: Formal/Written Style
新しい法律が国会で可決された。
(Atarashii houritsu ga kokkai de kaketsu sareta.)
"The new law was passed in the Diet."
Example 6: Historical/Narrative
その城は400年前に建てられた。
(Sono shiro wa yonhyaku nen mae ni taterareta.)
"That castle was built 400 years ago."
Example 7: Indirect Passive with Possession
弟にケーキを食べられた。
(Otouto ni keeki wo taberareta.)
"My little brother ate my cake (on me)." (I suffered because he ate it)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When learning Japanese passive voice conjugation, students often make these errors:
1. Confusing Passive with Potential Form
For Group 2 verbs, the passive form (られる) looks identical to the potential form. Context determines the meaning:
- 魚が食べられる could mean "The fish is eaten" (passive) OR "I can eat fish" (potential)
- In casual speech, potential often drops the ら: 食べれる (taberu → tabereru)
2. Using Wrong Particles
A common error is keeping を (wo) for the doer instead of changing to に (ni):
- Incorrect: 犬を噛まれた
- Correct: 犬に噛まれた (I was bitten by the dog)
3. Overusing によって (ni yotte)
によって is typically used for creations, inventions, or formal contexts. For everyday actions, simple に is preferred:
- Natural: 母に起こされた (I was woken up by my mother)
- Unnatural: 母によって起こされた (too formal for this context)
4. Missing the Nuance of Indirect Passive
English speakers often fail to use indirect passive when expressing inconvenience. If something negatively affected you, use passive even if you weren't the direct object:
- Less natural: 隣の人がタバコを吸った (The person next to me smoked)
- More natural: 隣の人にタバコを吸われた (I had the person next to me smoke—implying annoyance)
5. Using Passive with Intransitive Verbs Incorrectly
While Japanese allows passive with intransitive verbs (for indirect passive), learners sometimes create unnatural sentences:
- Correct: 子供に泣かれた (The child cried on me—I was troubled)
- Incorrect: *花に咲かれた (Flowers "bloomed on me"—doesn't make sense)
The indirect passive only works when the action can reasonably cause someone inconvenience or suffering.