Causative-Passive使役受身形
The causative-passive (使役受身形) combines causative + passive to express "was made to do" — the subject is forced to do something against their will. It’s the most complex standard verb form in Japanese, but it’s surprisingly common in everyday speech: "I was made to wait," "I was forced to drink." Godan verbs have a convenient shortened form (～される) that makes this less unwieldy.
The causative-passive (使役受身形) combines causative + passive to express "was made to do" — the subject is forced to do something against their will. It’s the most complex standard verb form in Japanese, but it’s surprisingly common in everyday speech: "I was made to wait," "I was forced to drink." Godan verbs have a convenient shortened form (～される) that makes this less unwieldy.
How to form the causative-passive
Take the causative form and make it passive: causative (-aseru/-saseru) → passive (-aserareru/-saserareru). In practice, the long forms are often shortened.
Godan: full form
Causative (あ-row + せる) → passive (+ られる): 行かせる→行かせられる (ikaserareru), 書かせる→書かせられる (kakaserareru), 読ませる→読ませられる (yomaserareru), 飲ませる→飲ませられる (nomaserareru). These long forms are grammatically correct but awkward to say.
Godan: shortened form (common)
Replace -せられる with -される: 行く→行かされる (ikasareru), 書く→書かされる (kakasareru), 読む→読まされる (yomasareru), 飲む→飲まされる (nomasareru), 待つ→待たされる (matasareru). This is the form you’ll actually hear in daily Japanese. It’s standard and accepted everywhere.
Ichidan: stem + させられる
Drop -ru and add -させられる: 食べる→食べさせられる (tabesaserareru), 見る→見させられる (misaserareru), 起きる→起きさせられる (okisaserareru). Ichidan verbs do NOT have a shortened form — the full -させられる is the only option.
Irregular
する→させられる (saserareru). 来る→来させられる (kosaserareru). No shortened forms for irregulars either.
What it means
The causative-passive always carries a sense of being forced or compelled to do something. The subject didn’t want to do it but had no choice. 飲まされた = I was made to drink (against my will). 待たされた = I was made to wait (and I was annoyed). The negative feeling is built into the grammar itself. You wouldn’t use it for things you were happily asked to do.
Particle structure
The person who forces the action takes に: 上司に残業させられた (I was made to work overtime by my boss). 先生に作文を書かせられた (I was made to write an essay by my teacher). The subject (who is forced) is often わ-topic marked or implied: (私は) 母に野菜を食べさせられた.
Common real-life situations
You’ll hear the causative-passive in everyday complaints and stories.
Work and school
上司に残業させられた (made to work overtime), 先生に宿題をやらされた (made to do homework), 先輩に荷物を持たされた (made to carry bags by a senior). Hierarchical situations are the most natural context.
Social situations
飲み会で飲まされた (was made to drink at the party), カラオケで歌わされた (was made to sing at karaoke), 友達に付き合わされた (was dragged along by a friend). Social pressure is a very common trigger.
Waiting
1時間も待たされた (I was made to wait a whole hour), 病院で長い間待たされた (I was made to wait a long time at the hospital). 待たされる is one of the most frequently used causative-passive verbs.
Causative-passive form (full and shortened)
| Verb | Group | Full form | Shortened | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 行く | Godan | 行かせられる | 行かされる | was made to go |
| 書く | Godan | 書かせられる | 書かされる | was made to write |
| 読む | Godan | 読ませられる | 読まされる | was made to read |
| 飲む | Godan | 飲ませられる | 飲まされる | was made to drink |
| 待つ | Godan | 待たせられる | 待たされる | was made to wait |
| 食べる | Ichidan | 食べさせられる | (none) | was made to eat |
| 見る | Ichidan | 見させられる | (none) | was made to watch |
| する | Irreg. | させられる | (none) | was made to do |
| 来る | Irreg. | 来させられる | (none) | was made to come |
Example sentences
上司に毎日残業させられている。
Joushi ni mainichi zangyou saserarete iru.
I’m made to work overtime every day by my boss.
する → させられる — ongoing forced state
飲み会でたくさん飲まされた。
Nomikai de takusan nomasareta.
I was made to drink a lot at the drinking party.
Shortened form: 飲ませられる → 飲まされる
病院で2時間も待たされた。
Byouin de nijikan mo matasareta.
I was made to wait two whole hours at the hospital.
待たされる — extremely common complaint
子供の頃、毎日ピアノを練習させられた。
Kodomo no koro, mainichi piano o renshuu saserareta.
As a child, I was made to practice piano every day.
する → させられる — childhood memory
先輩にカラオケで歌わされた。
Senpai ni karaoke de utawasareta.
I was made to sing at karaoke by my senior.
Shortened form — social pressure context
Common mistakes
食べさされる (incorrect shortening of ichidan)
食べさせられる
Only godan verbs can use the shortened form (-される). Ichidan verbs must always use the full form (-させられる). There is no 食べさされる.
させられた for something you wanted to do
させてもらった / させてくれた
The causative-passive inherently means "forced against my will." If someone let you do something and you’re grateful, use させてもらった (I was kindly allowed to do) or させてくれた (they let me do it).
待たせれた (missing ら)
待たされた
The shortened causative-passive is -される, not -せれる. 待つ → 待たされる → 待たされた. Don’t confuse the shortened causative-passive with ら抜き — they are different phenomena.
Frequently asked questions
Is the shortened form (飲まされる) considered informal?
No, the shortened form is fully standard and used in all registers including formal writing and JLPT tests. In fact, it’s the preferred form in modern Japanese. The full form (飲ませられる) sounds awkward and overly long. Use the shortened form by default.
Can the causative-passive ever be positive?
Technically yes, but it’s very rare. 感動させられた (I was moved / made to feel emotions) is a positive causative-passive. But 95% of the time, it implies unwanted coercion. For positive "was allowed to do," use させてもらった instead.
What’s the longest possible Japanese verb form?
Causative-passive + progressive + polite + negative: 食べさせられていません (tabesaserareteimasen — "am not being made to eat"). This 10-syllable form is grammatically valid and occasionally used. The causative-passive is the most complex building block.
What group does 走る belong to?