Grammar

Japanese Causative Form: Make / Let Someone Do

使N4–N2

The Japanese causative form expresses making or letting someone do something. Combined with passive, it forms the causative-passive — "being made to do something".

Causative conjugation

Group 1: change the final vowel to あ-row + せる. Group 2: replace る with させる. する→させる, くる→こさせる.

子どもに野菜を食べさせた。こどもにやさいをたべさせた。I made the child eat vegetables.

自由にやらせてください。じゆうにやらせてください。Please let me do it freely.

上司に残業させられた。じょうしにざんぎょうさせられた。I was made to work overtime by my boss.

Common mistakes

Wrong

Confusing causative (させる) and passive (られる)

Right

Causative-passive = させられる (made to do against will)

させる = make/let. させられる = be made to do (nuance of reluctance/imposition). These are entirely different meanings.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between させる (make) and させてあげる (let)?

Context determines whether させる means "make" (force) or "let" (allow). させてあげる and させてもらう explicitly express permission/favour. When the action is clearly voluntary, させる = let; when it is imposed, させる = make.