Unit 1 - Section 2: Kenjougo Verbs

Practice Quiz

Passive Form (受身形 Ukemi-kei)

The passive form in Japanese is used when the subject receives an action rather than performing it. It can express both direct passive (like English) and adversity passive (unique to Japanese).

Conjugation Rules for Passive Form

Group 1 (Ichidan verbs - る-verbs):

Replace る with られる

  • 食べる → 食べられる (taberu → taberareru) "to be eaten"
  • 見る → 見られる (miru → mirareru) "to be seen"
  • 教える → 教えられる (oshieru → oshierareru) "to be taught"
Group 2 (Godan verbs - う-verbs):

Change the final -u sound to -a sound + れる

Ending Change to Example
う わ + れる 買う → 買われる (kau → kawareru)
く か + れる 書く → 書かれる (kaku → kakareru)
ぐ が + れる 泳ぐ → 泳がれる (oyogu → oyogareru)
す さ + れる 話す → 話される (hanasu → hanasareru)
つ た + れる 待つ → 待たれる (matsu → matareru)
ぬ な + れる 死ぬ → 死なれる (shinu → shinareru)
ぶ ば + れる 遊ぶ → 遊ばれる (asobu → asobareru)
む ま + れる 読む → 読まれる (yomu → yomareru)
る ら + れる 取る → 取られる (toru → torareru)
Group 3 (Irregular verbs):
  • する → される (suru → sareru) "to be done"
  • 来る → 来られる (kuru → korareru) "to be come"

Types of Passive

1. Direct Passive (Similar to English)

Usage: Someone/something receives an action

この本ほんは多おおくの人ひとに読よまれています。
[Kono hon wa ooku no hito ni yomarete imasu]
Translation: This book is read by many people.
この絵えは有名ゆうめいな画家がかに描かかれました。
[Kono e wa yuumei na gaka ni kakaremashita]
Translation: This painting was painted by a famous artist.
2. Adversity Passive (Indirect Passive)

Usage: Someone is adversely affected by an action (unique to Japanese)

雨あめに降ふられた。
[Ame ni furareta]
Translation: I got rained on. (and I suffered from it)
子供こどもに泣なかれた。
[Kodomo ni nakareta]
Translation: My child cried (and it troubled me).
友達ともだちに先さきに帰かえられた。
[Tomodachi ni saki ni kaerareta]
Translation: My friend went home before me (and left me behind).
3. Honorific Passive

Usage: Respectful form (similar to honorific verbs)

先生せんせいはもう帰かえられました。
[Sensei wa mou kaeraremashita]
Translation: The teacher has already gone home. (respectful)

Particle Usage with Passive

に (ni) - Marks the agent (the doer)
私わたしは先生せんせいに褒ほめられました。
[Watashi wa sensei ni homeraremashita]
Translation: I was praised by the teacher.
を (wo) - Can mark the object in passive sentences
私わたしは弟おとうとに部屋へやを掃除そうじされた。
[Watashi wa otouto ni heya wo souji sareta]
Translation: My room was cleaned by my younger brother.

Common Passive Verbs

作る → 作られる
to make → to be made (tsukuru → tsukurareru)
呼ぶ → 呼ばれる
to call → to be called (yobu → yobareru)
褒める → 褒められる
to praise → to be praised (homeru → homerareru)
叱る → 叱られる
to scold → to be scolded (shikaru → shikarareru)
招待する → 招待される
to invite → to be invited (shoutai suru → shoutai sareru)
選ぶ → 選ばれる
to choose → to be chosen (erabu → erabareru)
笑う → 笑われる
to laugh → to be laughed at (warau → warawareru)
殺す → 殺される
to kill → to be killed (korosu → korosareru)

Study Tips

Mastering Passive Form:
  • Same as negative: Passive uses same a-column as negative, but add れる instead of ない
  • Adversity is unique: Remember that Japanese can express suffering/inconvenience through passive
  • に marks the doer: The person/thing performing the action is marked with に
  • Common in formal writing: Passive is frequently used in news, academic writing, and formal contexts
  • Practice perspective shift: Try converting active sentences to passive to understand the viewpoint change
Course Navigation
Study Tips
  • Read each example carefully
  • Practice pronunciation aloud
  • Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
  • Finish the section quiz