B1 Advanced Verbs 17 min read Hard

Japanese Passive Form: U-Verbs (Ukemi-kei)

Master the U-to-A shift to express how actions impact you, especially when things go slightly wrong.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The passive form turns the object into the subject, showing that someone or something was affected by an action.

  • For U-verbs, change the final 'u' sound to 'a' and add 'reru'. Example: {書く|かく} -> {書かれる|かかれる}.
  • The person doing the action is marked with the particle 'ni' or 'niyotte'.
  • The passive voice often implies a sense of annoyance or unwanted impact.
Subject (Victim) + は + Agent + に + Verb-Passive

Overview

The Japanese passive form, known as Ukemi-kei (受身形), allows you to describe an action as being performed to or upon the grammatical subject, rather than by the subject. While English often employs the passive voice to maintain formality or objectivity, Japanese utilizes it frequently to highlight the affected party and their experience, especially when that experience involves an inconvenience, surprise, or an impactful event. This often leads to what is termed the "adversative passive" (迷惑の受身), where the subject is negatively affected by an action.

However, the passive form also serves neutral purposes, such as describing events where the agent is unknown, or even respectful functions as a milder form of honorific language. Understanding Ukemi-kei is crucial for B1 learners, as it shifts the narrative perspective and conveys nuanced emotional or situational context that active voice simply cannot.

Conjugation Table

Dictionary Form (辞書形) Stem Change (音便形) Passive Form (受身形) English Meaning (Example)
:----------------------- :-------------------- :-------------------- :------------------------
`{書く かく}` (to write) `{書か かか}` `{書かれる かかれる}` to be written
`{話す はなす}` (to speak) `{話さ はなさ}` `{話される はなされる}` to be spoken
`{待つ まつ}` (to wait) `{待た また}` `{待たれる またれる}` to be waited for
`{読む よむ}` (to read) `{読ま よま}` `{読まれる よまれる}` to be read
`{呼ぶ よぶ}` (to call) `{呼ば よば}` `{呼ばれる よばれる}` to be called
`{死ぬ しぬ}` (to die) `{死な しな}` `{死なれる しなれる}` to have someone die (on you)
`{取る とる}` (to take) `{取ら とら}` `{取られる とられる}` to be taken
`{買う かう}` (to buy) `{買わ かわ}` `{買われる かわれる}` to be bought
`{言う いう}` (to say) `{言わ いわ}` `{言われる いわれる}` to be said
`{会う あう}` (to meet) `{会わ あわ}` `{会われる あわれる}` to be met
Critical Exception: For U-verbs ending in う (e.g., `{買う かう}, {言う いう}, {会う あう}), the う sound changes to わ (wa), not あ (a), before adding -れる. For example, 買う becomes {買わ かわ}れる, not 買あれる. This specific phonetic shift ensures proper pronunciation and aligns with similar patterns in other conjugations, such as the negative ない form (買わない`).

How This Grammar Works

The fundamental function of the Japanese passive voice is to shift the grammatical focus from the agent performing an action to the entity or person receiving or experiencing that action. In an active sentence, the structure typically follows Subject が/は Object を Verb. When transformed into a passive sentence, the entity that was the object in the active voice often becomes the new subject.
Alternatively, and very commonly in Japanese, the person affected by an action becomes the subject, even if they were not the direct object of the original active verb.
The particle に (ni) plays a crucial role in passive constructions. It typically marks the agent — the person or entity performing the action in the passive sentence. This に particle is equivalent to "by" in English passive constructions.
For instance:
  • Active: 先生が私を褒めた。 (Sensei ga watashi o hometa.) - "The teacher praised me."
  • Passive: 私は先生に褒められた。 (Watashi wa sensei ni homerareta.) - "I was praised by the teacher."
Here, 私 (I) becomes the subject (marked by は), and 先生 (teacher) is marked by に as the agent.
The Japanese passive distinguishes between two primary types:
  1. 1Direct Passive (直接受身 chokusetsu ukemi): This is analogous to the English passive, where the direct object of an active verb becomes the subject of the passive verb. The subject directly receives the action.
  • Example: 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 being read by many people." (Here, 本 was the direct object of 読む)
  1. 1Indirect Passive (間接受身 kansetsu ukemi) or Adversative Passive: This form is unique and highly prevalent in Japanese. The subject is not the direct object of the active verb but is affected by the action, often negatively. This type is used with both transitive and intransitive verbs. When an intransitive verb (which normally has no direct object) is made passive, it is almost always an adversative passive.
  • Example (with transitive verb): 私は友達にケーキを食べられた。 (Watashi wa tomodachi ni keeki o taberareta.) - "I had my cake eaten by my friend." (My cake was eaten, and I was inconvenienced. ケーキ is still marked by を).
  • Example (with intransitive verb): 私は雨に降られた。 (Watashi wa ame ni furareta.) - "I was rained on." (The rain 降る is an intransitive verb, but I was affected by it).
The choice between が and は for the subject follows general particle rules: は marks the topic, often introducing new information or contrasting, while が marks the grammatical subject, especially when it's new information or the focus of the statement. In passive sentences, は is frequently used when the affected party (the new subject) is the ongoing topic of conversation.

Formation Pattern

1
The process of forming the passive voice for U-verbs is systematic. It requires you to first identify the dictionary form of the verb and then apply a two-step transformation. This consistently results in a verb that conjugates identically to a Ru-verb.
2
Identify the Dictionary Form: Start with the standard dictionary form of the U-verb. For example, 書く(かく) (to write), 話す(はなす) (to speak), 待つ(まつ) (to wait).
3
Change the Final Syllable's Vowel Sound: Locate the final syllable of the dictionary form (e.g., く for 書く(かく), す for 話す(はなす), つ for 待つ(まつ)), and change its u vowel sound to its corresponding a vowel sound.
4
く (ku) → か (ka)
5
す (su) → さ (sa)
6
つ (tsu) → た (ta)
7
ぬ (nu) → な (na)
8
ぶ (bu) → ば (ba)
9
む (mu) → ま (ma)
10
る (ru) → ら (ra)
11
Crucial Exception: If the U-verb ends in う (u), such as 買う(かう) (to buy) or 言う(いう) (to say), the う changes to わ (wa), not あ (a).
12
う (u) → わ (wa)
13
Append -れる (-reru): After changing the vowel sound, attach -れる to the modified verb stem.
14
Let's illustrate with examples:
15
書く(かく) (to write): The final syllable く changes to か. Add -れる, resulting in 書か(かか)れる (to be written).
16
話す(はなす) (to speak): The final syllable す changes to さ. Add -れる, resulting in 話さ(はなさ)れる (to be spoken).
17
待つ(まつ) (to wait): The final syllable つ changes to た. Add -れる, resulting in 待た(また)れる (to be waited for).
18
買う(かう) (to buy): The final う changes to わ. Add -れる, resulting in 買わ(かわ)れる (to be bought).
19
言う(いう) (to say): The final う changes to わ. Add -れる, resulting in 言わ(いわ)れる (to be said).
20
The newly formed passive verb, ending in -れる, now conjugates precisely like a standard Ru-verb. This means its polite form is -れます (-remasu), its negative form is -れない (-renai), and so on. For example, the polite past tense of 書か(かか)れる is 書か(かか)れました.

When To Use It

The Japanese passive voice, especially for U-verbs, serves several distinct purposes beyond simply shifting focus, often conveying nuances absent in a direct active translation.
  1. 1Adversative Passive (迷惑の受身 meiwaku no ukemi): This is arguably the most characteristic use in Japanese. You employ the passive to express that you, the subject, were negatively affected or inconvenienced by someone else's action. This form often implies a sense of suffering, annoyance, or being bothered.
  • Example: 私は電車で隣の人に足を踏まれた。 (Watashi wa densha de tonari no hito ni ashi o fumareta.) - "I had my foot stepped on by the person next to me on the train." (Implies annoyance or pain).
  • Example: 週末に子供に早く起こされた。 (Shuumatsu ni kodomo ni hayaku okosareta.) - "I was woken up early by my child on the weekend." (Suggests inconvenience).
  1. 1Neutral Passive (Direct Passive): Similar to English, this form is used when the agent of the action is:
  • Unknown: 財布が盗まれた。 (Saifu ga nusumareta.) - "My wallet was stolen." (The thief is unknown).
  • Unimportant/Obvious: このビルは３年前に建てられた。 (Kono biru wa san-nen mae ni taterareta.) - "This building was built three years ago." (Who built it is less important than the fact it was built).
  • General or Abstract: 日本語は世界中で話されています。 (Nihongo wa sekaijuu de hanasarete imasu.) - "Japanese is spoken all over the world."
  1. 1Respectful Passive (尊敬語 sonkeigo): The passive form can function as a polite or respectful way to describe someone else's actions, particularly those of a superior or respected individual. It subtly elevates the status of the person whose action is being described without using more formal honorific verb conjugations.
  • Example: 社長はもう帰られましたか。 (Shachou wa mou kaeraremashita ka?) - "Has the company president already returned?" (More respectful than 社長はもう帰りましたか).
  • Example: 先生は本日、新しい本を書かれました。 (Sensei wa honjitsu, atarashii hon o kakaremashita.) - "The teacher wrote a new book today." (Respectful tone).
  1. 1Describing Natural Phenomena or Inanimate Forces: The passive can describe being affected by natural occurrences, especially when they cause an inconvenience.
  • Example: 突然の雨に降られた。 (Totsuzen no ame ni furareta.) - "I was rained on by the sudden rain." (Here 雨 is the agent).
In modern usage, the adversative passive is prevalent in social media or casual conversations to share minor grievances or unexpected impacts. For instance, a post might say また上司に呼び出された (I was called out by my boss again), conveying a sense of being bothered. Conversely, neutral passives are common in news reports or formal descriptions.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when mastering the passive form of U-verbs. Recognizing these common errors is key to developing accurate and natural Japanese.
  1. 1Confusing Passive (-areru) with Potential (-eru): This is perhaps the most significant source of confusion for U-verbs.
  • Passive U-verbs: End in -areru (e.g., 書か(かか)れる - to be written).
  • Potential U-verbs: Often end in -eru (e.g., 書け(かけ)る - can write).
While Ru-verbs use -rareru for both passive and potential (食べられる - can eat / to be eaten), U-verbs maintain a clear distinction in their non-polite forms. Mistaking 書か(かか)れる for 書け(かけ)る would mean saying "to be written" instead of "can write," leading to significant misunderstanding. Always double-check the vowel sound before -れる or -る.
Incorrect
✗2. **Overlooking the う
✓わ Exception:** For U-verbs ending in う (e.g., 買う(かう), 言う(いう)), the vowel changes to わ (wa), not あ (a). A common error is to conjugate 買う(かう) as 買あれる instead of the correct 買わ(かわ)れる. This error often stems from overgeneralizing the u → a rule. Remember that this う → わ shift is consistent across other conjugations, such as the ない form (買わない).
  1. 1Incorrect Particle Usage:
  • Agent marking: Forgetting to mark the agent with に is a frequent mistake. Without に, it's unclear who performed the action in a direct passive, or who caused the inconvenience in an adversative passive. For example, saying 犬、噛まれた instead of 犬に噛まれた (bitten by a dog) is ambiguous or simply incorrect.
  • Subject marking: Beginners sometimes retain を (o) for the original object even when it becomes the new subject in a direct passive, or when an adversative passive is used. The new subject, the affected party, should be marked by が or は. For example, 私は友達にケーキを食べる instead of 私は友達にケーキを食べられた would incorrectly imply you eat the cake. In adversative passives, the original object often retains を, but the affected subject takes が/は (私は友達にケーキを食べられた。).
  1. 1Overuse of the Adversative Passive: While expressing negative impact is a key function, consistently using the adversative passive for every minor inconvenience can make you sound overly dramatic or like you constantly perceive yourself as a victim. Native speakers use it judiciously; not every slight calls for 迷惑の受身.
  1. 1Confusing Passive with Causative Passive: The causative passive (使役受身) exists (e.g., 書か(かか)せられる - to be made to write), and while more advanced, it can be confused with the simple passive. The presence of せ before -られる indicates compulsion, not just being acted upon.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Distinguishing the passive form from other similar-sounding or structurally related grammatical patterns is crucial for precise communication in Japanese.
  1. 1Passive (受身形) vs. Active Voice (能動態):
The primary distinction lies in focus. Active voice emphasizes the doer and the action itself: X が Y を Verb. Passive voice shifts emphasis to the receiver or affected party: Y が X に Passive Verb.
  • Active: 弟が私の漫画を読んだ。 (Ototo ga watashi no manga o yonda.) - "My younger brother read my manga."
  • Passive: 私は弟に漫画を読まれた。 (Watashi wa ototo ni manga o yomareta.) - "I had my manga read by my younger brother." (Adversative: implies annoyance)
The active voice is direct and states a fact. The passive voice, especially 迷惑の受身, often carries emotional weight or implies the subject's experience.
  1. 1Passive (-areru) vs. Potential (-eru for U-verbs / -rareru for Ru-verbs):
As noted in common mistakes, this is a major point of divergence for U-verbs.
  • U-verbs:
  • Passive: 書か(かか)れる (to be written)
  • Potential: 書け(かけ)る (can write)
  • Ru-verbs:
  • Passive: 食べ(たべ)られる (to be eaten)
  • Potential: 食べ(たべ)られる (can eat)
For Ru-verbs, context is vital to discern whether 食べられる(たべられる) means "can eat" or "to be eaten." For U-verbs, the distinct endings -areru and -eru prevent this ambiguity.
  1. 1Passive (-areru) vs. Causative (使役形 shieki-kei -aseru):
Causative verbs express that someone makes or lets someone else perform an action.
  • Passive: 私が部長に呼ばれた。 (Watashi ga buchou ni yobareta.) - "I was called by the department head."
  • Causative: 部長が私を呼ばせた。 (Buchou ga watashi o yobaseta.) - "The department head made me call." (or "let me call," depending on context).
Notice the difference in meaning and the せ sound in causative forms (e.g., 話さ(はなさ)せる, 読ま(よま)せる).
  1. 1Passive (-areru) vs. Causative Passive (使役受身形 shieki ukemi-kei -aserareru):
This more advanced form indicates being made or forced to do something.
  • Passive: 私は先生に褒められた。 (Watashi wa sensei ni homerareta.) - "I was praised by the teacher."
  • Causative Passive: 私は先生に宿題をさせられた。 (Watashi wa sensei ni shukudai o saserareta.) - "I was made to do homework by the teacher."
The causative passive is formed by taking the causative stem (e.g., 話させ-, 読ませ-) and adding -られる. It explicitly states compulsion.
| Pattern | U-verb Form (Example: 書く kaku) | Meaning |
| :---------------- | :--------------------------------- | :----------------------- |
| Active | 書く(かく) | to write |
| Passive | 書か(かか)れる | to be written |
| Potential | 書け(かけ)る | can write |
| Causative | 書か(かか)せる | to make/let write |
| Causative Passive | 書か(かか)せられる | to be made to write |

Real Conversations

The passive voice is an integral part of natural Japanese conversation, appearing frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Understanding its usage in everyday dialogue reveals its communicative depth.

1. Complaining / Sharing Adversity (Adversative Passive):

This is extremely common in casual exchanges and on social media.

- Text message to a friend: 今日の会議、また私に意見を求められたんだよ。疲れた〜 (Kyou no kaigi, mata watashi ni iken o motomerareta n da yo. Tsukareta~) - "In today's meeting, I was asked for my opinion again. I'm so tired~" (Implies being bothered by the request).

- Social media post: 突然、猫にパソコンの上を歩かれた。書類がぐちゃぐちゃ… (Totsuzen, neko ni pasokon no ue o arukarata. Shorui ga guchagucha...) - "Suddenly, the cat walked all over my laptop. My documents are a mess..." (Expresses inconvenience caused by the cat).

2. Sharing Experiences (Neutral/Positive Passive):

Often used when the agent is clear from context or when conveying a general positive or neutral experience.

- At a job interview: 御社の製品は、多くのユーザーに愛用されていると伺っています。 (Onsha no seihin wa, ooku no yuzaa ni aiyou sarete iru to ukagatte imasu.) - "I understand that your company's products are favored by many users." (Neutral, factual usage).

- Telling a family member: 先日、駅で困っていたら、親切な人に助けられたよ。 (Senjitsu, eki de komatte itara, shinsetsu na hito ni tasukerareta yo.) - "The other day, when I was in trouble at the station, I was helped by a kind person." (Positive experience).

3. Formal or Respectful Contexts (Respectful Passive):

In business settings or when speaking about superiors, the passive can subtly convey respect.

- Email to a colleague about a manager: 田中部長は本日、大阪へ出張されるそうです。 (Tanaka buchou wa honjitsu, Oosaka e shucchou sareru sou desu.) - "I hear Manager Tanaka is going on a business trip to Osaka today." (Passive used as honorific for 行く).

- Announcing an event: 来月、有名作家による講演会が開催されます。 (Raigetsu, yuumei sakka ni yoru kouenkai ga kaisai saremasu.) - "Next month, a lecture by a famous author will be held." (Formal, neutral passive).

These examples demonstrate how the passive voice is not just a grammatical construction but a tool for conveying social nuances, emotional states, and contextual information in everyday Japanese interactions. It allows speakers to frame events from the perspective of the recipient, which is a significant aspect of Japanese communication.

Progressive Practice

1

Mastering the U-verb passive form requires consistent exposure and active practice. Focus on these strategies to internalize the rules and use the passive naturally.

2

- Conjugation Drills: Regularly practice conjugating a variety of U-verbs into their passive forms, paying close attention to the u → wa exception. Start by writing out the full table for new verbs you encounter. This reinforces the mechanical aspect of formation.

3

- Example: Transform 聞く (kiku), 立つ (tatsu), 遊ぶ (asobu), 歌う (utau) into passive.

4

- 聞か(きか)れる (to be heard), 立た(たた)れる (to be stood on/stood up to), 遊ば(あそば)れる (to be played with), 歌わ(うたわ)れる (to be sung).

5

- Particle Awareness: When translating or constructing passive sentences, consciously identify the agent and ensure it's correctly marked with に. Similarly, confirm that the new subject is marked with が or は. Mistakes in particle usage fundamentally alter meaning or render sentences ungrammatical.

6

- Practice by taking active sentences like 泥棒が私の自転車を盗んだ (The thief stole my bicycle) and transforming them to passive: 私は泥棒に自転車を盗まれた (I had my bicycle stolen by the thief).

7

- Contextual Differentiation: Actively seek out examples of passive voice in native materials (anime, manga, news, social media). Try to determine why the passive was chosen over the active voice. Is it an adversative passive, a neutral direct passive, or a respectful passive? This develops your intuitive understanding of its nuance.

8

- Read a news article and identify sentences like 新製品が発表された (A new product was announced) and contrast with a social media post like 上司に朝早く呼び出された (I was called out early in the morning by my boss).

9

- Rephrasing Exercises: Take active sentences and rephrase them into their passive equivalents, considering the potential shift in nuance. Conversely, take passive sentences and try to imagine their active counterparts. This bidirectional practice strengthens your grasp of both forms.

10

- Active: 先生がその質問に答えた。 (The teacher answered that question.)

11

- Passive: その質問は先生によって答えられた。 (That question was answered by the teacher.) - (Note: によって is often used for inanimate agents or more formal contexts for animate agents).

12

- Role-Playing and Conversation: Engage in conversation practice where you deliberately try to incorporate passive sentences. Describe an inconvenience that happened to you, explain how something was made, or recount a story from the perspective of being affected. Immediate feedback from a native speaker or teacher can be invaluable.

Quick FAQ

Addressing common questions helps solidify your understanding of the passive voice for U-verbs.
  • Q: Can the passive form always express a negative feeling?
  • A: No. While the adversative passive is prominent, the direct passive is often neutral, simply stating a fact (この絵は有名な画家によって描かれた。 - "This painting was drawn by a famous artist"). It can even be positive, expressing gratitude or relief (親切な人に助けられた。 - "I was helped by a kind person"). The context and verb largely determine the nuance.
  • Q: Is によって interchangeable with に for marking the agent?
  • A: Not entirely. によって (ni yotte) emphasizes the means or method by which an action is performed, or highlights the author/creator of something. It is generally more formal than に and is commonly used with inanimate agents or in written, formal contexts. For animate agents, に is usually sufficient and more natural in casual speech.
  • Example: 電話が発明家ベルによって発明された。 (Denwa ga hatsumeika Beru ni yotte hatsumeisareta.) - "The telephone was invented by the inventor Bell."
  • Q: Do intransitive verbs always form an adversative passive?
  • A: Yes, almost exclusively. Since an intransitive verb does not take a direct object, the only way a subject can be acted upon by an intransitive action is indirectly, making them the affected party. Thus, this construction is inherently adversative, implying the subject was inconvenienced or suffered the consequences of the action.
  • Example: 子供に泣かれて、宿題ができなかった。 (Kodomo ni nakarete, shukudai ga dekinakatta.) - "I couldn't do my homework because my child cried (on me/around me)."
  • Q: Can the passive form be used with animate subjects to express respect, even if it's not 尊敬語?
  • A: Yes, the respectful passive (尊敬語の受身) is one category of honorifics. It elevates the subject by presenting their actions in a softened, indirect manner. It's milder than more direct honorific verbs but still serves to show deference. For example, 先生が話される is a common way to respectfully say "the teacher speaks" or "the teacher will speak." The subject is the respected person, and their action is expressed passively.
  • Q: When would you use が vs は for the subject of a passive sentence?
  • A: The choice aligns with general が vs は rules. は is used when the subject is the topic of discussion, often already known or to introduce a contrast. が is used when the subject is the focus of the statement, often introducing new information or when it's the grammatical subject of a subordinate clause. For example, in この本はよく読まれている (This book is widely read), 本 is the topic. If you're asking 誰がこの本を読んだの？ (Who read this book?), the answer might be 田中さんが読んだ (Mr. Tanaka read it), where 田中さん is new, focal information.

U-Verb Passive Conjugation

Dictionary Stem (a-row) Passive Form
{書く|かく}
書か
{書かれる|かかれる}
{読む|よむ}
読ま
{読まれる|よまれる}
{待つ|まつ}
待た
{待たれる|またれる}
{死ぬ|しぬ}
死な
{死なれる|しなれる}
{遊ぶ|あそぶ}
遊ば
{遊ばれる|あそばれる}
{会う|あう}
会わ
{会われる|あわれる}

Meanings

The passive voice is used to describe an action where the subject is the receiver of the action, often emphasizing the impact on that subject.

1

Direct Passive

Standard passive where the subject is directly affected.

“{本が|ほんが}{読まれました|よまれました}。”

“{彼に|かれに}{手紙を|てがみを}{書かれました|かかれました}。”

2

Indirect Passive

Used when someone is affected by an action done to someone else's possession.

“{私は|わたしは}{弟に|おとうとに}{パソコンを|ぱそこんを}{壊されました|こわされました}。”

“{母に|ははに}{日記を|にっきを}{読まれました|よまれました}。”

Reference Table

Reference table for Japanese Passive Form: U-Verbs (Ukemi-kei)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb-a + reru
{書かれる|かかれる}
Negative
Verb-a + renai
{書かれない|かかれない}
Past
Verb-a + reta
{書かれた|かかれた}
Polite
Verb-a + remasu
{書かれます|かかれます}
Te-form
Verb-a + rete
{書かれて|かかれて}
Short Answer
Verb-a + reta
{書かれた|かかれた}

Formality Spectrum

Formal
{叱られました|しかられました}

{叱られました|しかられました} (Work/School)

Neutral
{叱られた|しかられた}

{叱られた|しかられた} (Work/School)

Informal
{叱られちゃった|しかられちゃった}

{叱られちゃった|しかられちゃった} (Work/School)

Slang
{叱られちった|しかられちった}

{叱られちった|しかられちった} (Work/School)

Passive Voice Concept Map

Passive Voice

Usage

  • Suffering Negative impact
  • Objective Neutral reporting
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Examples by Level

1

{名前を|なまえを}{呼ばれました|よばれました}。

I was called by name.

2

{褒められました|ほめられました}。

I was praised.

3

{助けられました|たすけられました}。

I was helped.

4

{見られました|みられました}。

I was seen.

1

{先生に|せんせいに}{叱られました|しかられました}。

I was scolded by the teacher.

2

{友達に|ともだちに}{笑われました|わらわれました}。

I was laughed at by my friend.

3

{犬に|いぬに}{噛まれました|かまれました}。

I was bitten by a dog.

4

{雨に|あめに}{降られました|ふられました}。

I was rained on.

1

{弟に|おとうとに}{ケーキを|けーきを}{食べられました|たべられました}。

My cake was eaten by my younger brother.

2

{隣人に|りんじんに}{騒がれました|さわがれました}。

I was bothered by the neighbor's noise.

3

{母に|ははに}{日記を|にっきを}{読まれました|よまれました}。

My diary was read by my mother.

4

{彼に|かれに}{待たされました|またされました}。

I was made to wait by him.

1

{この本は|このほんは}{多くの人に|おおくのひとに}{読まれています|よまれています}。

This book is read by many people.

2

{会議で|かいぎで}{意見を|いけんを}{否定されました|ひていされました}。

My opinion was rejected at the meeting.

3

{泥棒に|どろぼうに}{財布を|さいふを}{盗まれました|ぬすまれました}。

My wallet was stolen by a thief.

4

{上司に|じょうしに}{仕事を|しごとを}{頼まれました|たのまれました}。

I was asked to do a job by my boss.

1

{その事件は|そのじけんは}{警察によって|けいさつによって}{調査されています|ちょうさされています}。

The case is being investigated by the police.

2

{伝統的な|でんとうてきな}{方法で|ほうほうで}{作られました|つくられました}。

It was made using a traditional method.

3

{計画は|けいかくは}{変更されました|へんこうされました}。

The plan was changed.

4

{彼によって|かれによって}{発見されました|はっけんされました}。

It was discovered by him.

1

{古くから|ふるくから}{語り継がれてきた|かたりつがれてきた}{物語です|ものがたりです}。

It is a story that has been passed down since ancient times.

2

{自然の|しぜんの}{力に|ちからに}{圧倒されました|あっとうされました}。

I was overwhelmed by the power of nature.

3

{運命に|うんめいに}{翻弄されました|ほんろうされました}。

I was tossed about by fate.

4

{時代に|じだいに}{流されました|ながされました}。

I was swept away by the times.

Easily Confused

Japanese Passive Form: U-Verbs (Ukemi-kei) vs Causative vs Passive

Both involve complex verb endings.

Common Mistakes

✗

{書くれる|かくれる}

✓

{書かれる|かかれる}

Wrong vowel change.
✗

{彼を|かれを}{叱られました|しかられました}

✓

{彼に|かれに}{叱られました|しかられました}

Wrong particle for agent.
✗

{プレゼントを|ぷれぜんとを}{貰われました|もらわれました}

✓

{プレゼントを|ぷれぜんとを}{貰いました|もらいました}

Passive used for positive event.
✗

{雨に|あめに}{降った|ふった}

✓

{雨に|あめに}{降られた|ふられた}

Missing passive form.

Sentence Patterns

Subject + は + Agent + に + ___ + されました。

Real World Usage

Social Media common

{炎上させられました|えんじょうさせられました}。

News constant

{発表されました|はっぴょうされました}。

Work very common

{頼まれました|たのまれました}。

Texting common

{待たされてる|またされてる}。

Travel occasional

{迷わされました|まよわされました}。

Food Delivery occasional

{間違えられました|まちがえられました}。

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⚠️

The 'Wa' Trap

Never say 'ka-areru' for the passive of 'kau'. It's always 'kawareru'. This applies to all verbs ending in a single hiragana 'u' like 'iu', 'omou', or 'warau'.
🎯

Listen for 're'

If you hear a U-verb with an 'a' vowel followed by 're', it's passive. If you hear it with an 'e' vowel, it's potential (ability). Hanas-a-reru (passive) vs Hanas-e-ru (can speak).
💬

Don't be too passive!

While the passive form is great for showing empathy, using it for your own positive actions can sound strange or like you're evading responsibility. Use active voice for things you achieved yourself.

Smart Tips

Use passive to emphasize your annoyance.

弟がケーキを食べた。 → 弟にケーキを食べられた。

Use passive for neutral reporting.

誰かが窓を割った。 → 窓が割られた。

Use passive for being scolded.

先生が私を叱った。 → 先生に叱られた。

Use passive for rain/snow.

雨が降った。 → 雨に降られた。

Pronunciation

re-ru

Reru/Rareru

Ensure the 're' is crisp.

Falling

{叱られました|しかられました}↓

Statement of fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Change the 'u' to 'a' and add 'reru' to say 'I was done to'.

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing in the rain, looking annoyed. The rain is 'doing' the action to them.

Rhyme

Change 'u' to 'a', add 'reru' today!

Story

Taro was eating his cake. Suddenly, his brother appeared. The cake was eaten by the brother. Taro was sad.

Word Web

{書かれる|かかれる}{読まれる|よまれる}{待たれる|またれる}{笑われる|わらわれる}{踏まれる|ふまれる}

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about things that annoyed you today using the passive voice.

Cultural Notes

The passive is often used to avoid direct confrontation or to show humility.

Derived from the potential and honorific forms.

Conversation Starters

“

最近、何か困ったことはありましたか？

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you were annoyed by someone.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Conjugate {書く|かく} to passive.

私は彼に手紙を___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 書かれた
Past tense required.
Select the correct particle. Multiple Choice

私は先生___叱られました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: に
Agent is marked by ni.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

私は雨を降られました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 私は雨に降られました
Particle ni is correct.
Change to passive. Sentence Transformation

弟がケーキを食べた。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ケーキが弟に食べられた
Subject becomes cake.
Match verb to passive. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 読まれる
Correct conjugation.
Is this true? True False Rule

Passive voice always implies a good thing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Usually implies negative.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: どうしたの？ B: ___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 犬に噛まれた
Passive needed.
Order the words. Sentence Building

に / 叱られた / 先生 / 私は

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 私は先生に叱られた
Standard order.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate {書く|かく} to passive.

私は彼に手紙を___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 書かれた
Past tense required.
Select the correct particle. Multiple Choice

私は先生___叱られました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: に
Agent is marked by ni.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

私は雨を降られました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 私は雨に降られました
Particle ni is correct.
Change to passive. Sentence Transformation

弟がケーキを食べた。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ケーキが弟に食べられた
Subject becomes cake.
Match verb to passive. Match Pairs

{読む|よむ} -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 読まれる
Correct conjugation.
Is this true? True False Rule

Passive voice always implies a good thing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Usually implies negative.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: どうしたの？ B: ___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 犬に噛まれた
Passive needed.
Order the words. Sentence Building

に / 叱られた / 先生 / 私は

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 私は先生に叱られた
Standard order.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Reorder the words to say 'My bag was taken by a thief.' Sentence Reorder

[ {泥棒|どろぼう}に ] [ {取ら|とら}れた ] [ カバンを ] [ 私は ]

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 私は{泥棒|どろぼう}にカバンを{取ら|とら}れた。
Translate into Japanese: 'I was called by my boss.' Translation

Translate: I was called by my boss.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {上司|じょうし}に{呼ば|よば}れた。
Match the active verb to its passive form. Match Pairs

Match the verbs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: all_matches
Fill in the correct particle for the person who did the action. Fill in the Blank

私は{犬|いぬ}__ {手|て}を{噛ま|かま}れた。(I had my hand bitten by a dog.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: に
Which one is the 'suffering passive' about rain? Multiple Choice

Select the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {雨|あめ}に{降ら|ふ}られた。
Correct the verb 'iu' in passive form. Error Correction

みんなに「バカ」と{いあ|いあ}れた。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {言わ|いわ}れた
Reorder to say 'This song is loved by everyone.' Sentence Reorder

[ みんなに ] [ この{歌|うた}は ] [ {愛さ|あいさ}れている ]

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: この{歌|うた}はみんなに{愛さ|あいさ}れている。
Translate: 'I was asked for help.' Translation

Translate: I was asked for help.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {助け|たすけ}を{求め|もとめ}られた。
Passive of 'tsukuru' (to make). Fill in the Blank

このケーキは{妹|いもうと}に____。(This cake was made by my sister.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {作ら|つくら}れた
Passive vs Potential check for U-verbs. Multiple Choice

Which is passive (to be told)?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {言わ|いわ}れる

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

In passive, 'ni' marks the agent.

Usually no, use 'te-morau'.

Mostly, yes.

This rule is for U-verbs.

Use causative-passive.

It can be both.

Yes, for complaints.

Yes, it adds perspective.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Pasiva refleja

Japanese passive implies suffering.

French moderate

Voix passive

Japanese has indirect passive.

German moderate

Passiv

Japanese passive is more nuanced.

Japanese high

Ukemi

None.

Arabic partial

Majhul

Japanese uses suffixing.

Chinese partial

Bei

Japanese is more flexible.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Japanese Passive Form: ru-verbs (～られる)

Learn These First

A1 Requires

Japanese Politeness: ~Desu and ~Masu

Overview Japanese communication necessitates careful attention to politeness, a concept deeply ingrained in its linguist...

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B1 Requires

Japanese Direct Passive: Being Acted Upon (直接受身)

Overview The Japanese **Direct Passive**, known as `直接受身` {ちょくせつじゅしん|chokusetsu jushin}, is a grammatical c...
B1 Requires

Indirect Passive: The 'Suffering' Passive

Overview Japanese grammar often emphasizes the speaker's perspective and emotional involvement in an event. The **Indire...
B1 Requires

Japanese Passive Voice: Being Affected by Others (に)

Overview The Japanese passive voice, known as `受身形` (`うけみけい`), serves a distinct linguistic purpose often differ...

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