Forced to do: Noun + o yoginakusareru
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the {使役受身|しえきうけみ} (causative-passive) form when you are forced to do something against your will.
- For Group 1 verbs: Change the final 'u' to 'asare' (e.g., {書く|かく} -> {書かされる|かかされる}).
- For Group 2 verbs: Add 'saserareru' to the stem (e.g., {食べる|たべる} -> {食べさせられる|たべさせられる}).
- For irregulars: {来る|くる} becomes {来させられる|こさせられる} and {する} becomes {させられる}.
Overview
At the C2 level, you move beyond merely expressing events to articulating the complex web of causality and agency behind them. The grammar pattern Noun + を余儀なくされる (をよぎなくされる) is a pinnacle of formal, objective expression in Japanese. It is used to describe a situation where an entity is forced into an undesirable state by an overwhelming and typically impersonal external force.
This is not about being inconvenienced; it's about a fundamental loss of control where circumstances render all other options impossible.
The core meaning is “to be unavoidably forced into a state of…”. Think of a company forced into bankruptcy by a market crash, a community forced to relocate by a dam project, or a mission forced to be aborted due to critical equipment failure. In each case, the subject is a passive recipient of a negative outcome.
The choice has been stripped away. This grammar is the language of news reports, historical analyses, official statements, and legal documents. It carries significant weight and formality, conveying a sense of gravity and inevitability.
Mastering it is essential for producing high-level Japanese that can dissect complex events with precision and objectivity.
Its register is exceptionally high, making it completely unsuitable for everyday complaints. You would not use this because you were “forced” to wait for a bus. It is reserved for significant, consequential events that often involve cancellation (中止), withdrawal (撤退), or resignation (辞任).
How This Grammar Works
を余儀なくされる requires dissecting its components to grasp the linguistic principle at its core. The expression is a fixed phrase built from classical elements, and its logic is rooted in objectifying a situation.余儀なくされる. Pitch accent typically falls on the first mora: よ.- 1
余儀(yo-gi): This is a formal, Sino-Japanese noun (kango) that is now only used in this expression.余means “other,” and儀can mean “method,” “procedure,” or “means.” Together,余儀signifies “another way” or “an alternative course of action.” It represents the existence of choice.
- 1
なく({naku}): This is the adverbial form of the negative adjectiveない(to not exist). When it modifies余儀, the phrase余儀なくmeans “without another way” or “with no alternative.” It fundamentally negates the possibility of choice.
- 1
される({sareru}): This is the passive form of the verbする(to do). The passive voice is the critical mechanism here. It frames the subject of the sentence as the receiver, not the initiator, of an action. Something is being done to them. In this context, what is being “done” is the imposition of a state of no alternatives.
〜を余儀なくされる literally means “to have [the noun] imposed upon one, with no other alternative available.” This is why it feels so detached and formal. The grammar takes an entire event or outcome (e.g., 中止 - cancellation), treats it as a single noun-object, and describes it as being forced upon the subject by some unnamed, external power. The subject's agency is grammatically erased, making them a victim of circumstance.計画の変更を余儀なくされた。- We were forced to change the plan. (Literally: A change of the plan was unavoidably imposed upon us.)
計画の変更 is not an action the subject chose to perform; it's an abstract “thing” they were forced to accept.Word Order Rules
を余儀なくされる must follow a noun or noun phrase.を marks the direct object of the verb される. In this pattern, the undesirable event or outcome is nominalized—turned into a noun—so it can function as this object. This noun is the “thing” that is being forced upon the subject.の or こと.を + 余儀なくされるkango (Sino-Japanese word), often one that can form a verb by adding する. The key is to use only the noun form.- Correct:
中止(cancellation, noun)を余儀なくされた。 - Incorrect:
中止する(to cancel, verb)を余儀なくされた。
を + 余儀なくされる | 事業からの撤退を余儀なくされた。 (Forced to withdraw from the business.) | ✅ |を + 余儀なくされる | 事業から撤退するを余儀なくされた。 | ❌ |こと/の + を + 余儀なくされる | 事業から撤退するのを余儀なくされた。 | ❌ |〜せざるを得ない). You are being forced into a state or situation—the noun itself. The noun represents the unwelcome result that is imposed upon you as a single, indivisible concept.Formation Pattern
される conjugates. You must also distinguish it from its causative counterpart, させる, which completely inverts the grammatical agency.
〜を余儀なくされる (To be forced into X)
ichidan verb (as it's a passive suru-verb).
余儀なくされる | 余儀なくされます |
余儀なくされた | 余儀なくされました |
余儀なくされて | 余儀なくされまして |
余儀なくされている | 余儀なくされています |
円高の影響で、多くの企業が生産拠点の海外移転を余儀なくされています。
余儀なくされなかった (was not forced to) are logically rare. The pattern's entire purpose is to explain why a difficult event did happen, not why it didn't.
〜に〜を余儀なくさせる (To force someone into X)
は/が + Affected Party + に + Noun + を + 余儀なくさせる
そのスキャンダルは大臣に辞任を余儀なくさせた。
させる is the causative form (“to make/force”). It also conjugates like an ichidan verb (させ, させた, させて). This form is powerful for analytical writing where you explicitly name the cause of an unavoidable outcome.
When To Use It
を余儀なくされる. It is the default choice in journalism, academic writing, and official reports to describe events factually and without emotional coloring. It frames a situation as an inevitable consequence.記録的な豪雪により、鉄道各社は大幅なダイヤの変更を余儀なくされた。- Due to record-breaking heavy snow, each railway company was forced to make significant changes to their timetables.
- From a corporate statement:
深刻な資金繰りの悪化を受け、誠に遺憾ながら、一部事業からの撤退を余儀なくされました。 - In response to a severe deterioration of our cash flow, it is with great regret that we were forced to withdraw from certain business areas.
度重なる怪我が原因で、彼は現役からの引退を余儀なくされた。- Due to recurring injuries, he was forced to retire from his active career.
- Text message:
終電を逃し、一万円の出費とタクシーでの帰宅を余儀なくされた。今月の財政、ここに終焉を迎える。 - Missed the last train and was forced into an expenditure of 10,000 yen and a taxi ride home. This month's finances meet their demise here.
Common Mistakes
kango noun for the situation.- ❌ Incorrect:
諦めるを余儀なくされた。 - ✅ Correct:
断念を余儀なくされた。(Forced into abandonment/giving up.) - ❌ Incorrect:
出発を遅らせるを余儀なくされた。 - ✅ Correct:
出発の延期を余儀なくされた。(Forced into a postponement of departure.)
を余儀なくされる is its defining feature. Applying it to minor, everyday situations where you retain some choice sounds unnatural and pompous (unless the intent is sarcasm).- ❌ Incorrect (sounds absurd):
雨が降ってきたので、洗濯物の取り込みを余儀なくされた。 - ✅ Natural:
雨が降ってきたので、仕方なく洗濯物を取り込んだ。(Since it rained, I had no choice but to bring in the laundry.)
される and させるされる sentence is the one being forced. The subject of a させる sentence is the one doing the forcing.- ❌ Incorrect:
私は台風に避難を余儀なくさせた。(I forced the typhoon to evacuate.) - ✅ Correct (Passive):
私は台風によって避難を余儀なくされた。(I was forced by the typhoon to evacuate.) - ✅ Correct (Causative):
台風は住民に避難を余儀なくさせた。(The typhoon forced the residents to evacuate.)
Contrast With Similar Patterns
を余儀なくされる is crucial for C2-level nuance.〜を余儀なくされる | Noun + を + 余儀なくされる | Outcome-focused. An undesirable state is imposed by an external, impersonal force. Objective and detached. | Very Formal / Written | 計画の変更を余儀なくされた。 (A change of plans was forced upon us.) |〜せざるを得ない | Verb-ない stem + ざるを得ない | Action-focused. Reluctant but personal decision to perform an action. Subjective feeling of obligation from within. | Formal / Spoken & Written | 計画を変更せざるを得ない。 (I/We have no choice but to change the plan.) |〜しかない | Verb-Dict. + しかない | Option-focused. Simply states that only one option exists. Neutral and versatile for major or minor issues. | Conversational | もう計画を変更するしかない。 (There's nothing to do but change the plan now.) |〜させられる | Verb-ない stem + (さ)せられる | Agent-focused. Forced to do something by a specific person/entity. Carries nuance of annoyance or suffering. | Spoken / Context-Dep. | 部長に計画を変更させられた。 (The manager made me change the plan.) |やむを得ず〜 | やむを得ず + Verb | Adverbial. “Unavoidably,” “out of necessity.” Modifies a following verb, explaining the reason for an action. | Formal / Written & Spoken | やむを得ず、計画を変更した。 (Unavoidably, we changed the plan.) |余儀なくされる vs. せざるを得ない: This is the most critical distinction. 余儀なくされる focuses on the noun result (変更, the change).せざるを得ない focuses on the verb action (変更する, the act of changing). The former is a passive observation about the state of affairs; the latter is an active, albeit reluctant, conclusion about what one must now do. You are forced into a state versus forced to take an action.余儀なくされる vs. やむを得ず: 余儀なくされる is a complete predicate structure, while やむを得ず is an adverb that modifies a verb. やむを得ず describes the reluctant manner in which an agent performs an action (we unavoidably did X), while 余儀なくされる describes the situation being inflicted upon a passive subject (X was unavoidably inflicted upon us).Real Conversations
Let's observe the pattern in authentic contexts.
1. News Broadcast
大雪の影響で首都圏の交通網は終日麻痺状態となり、多くの乗客が駅構内での一夜を明かすことを余儀なくされました。
(Due to the heavy snow's impact, the Tokyo metropolitan area's transport network was paralyzed all day, forcing many passengers to spend the night inside train stations.)
2. Formal Business Apology Email
`件名：サーバー障害のお詫びと復旧のお知らせ
先日のシステムトラブルにより、お客様には長時間にわたるサービスの利用停止を余儀なくされる事態となり、多大なるご迷惑をおかけしましたことを深くお詫び申し上げます。`
(Subject: Apology for Server Outage and Notice of Recovery. Due to the recent system trouble, a situation arose where customers were forced into a service stoppage for many hours. We deeply apologize for this significant inconvenience.)
3. Historical Documentary Narration
敗戦という現実を突きつけられた日本は、国家システムの根本的な改革を余儀なくされたのです。
(Confronted with the reality of defeat in the war, Japan was forced to fundamentally reform its national systems.)
4. Social Media Post (Serious Discussion)
コロナ禍で業界の構造が一変し、多くの同業者が廃業や事業転換を余儀なくされている。他人事ではない。
(In the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry's structure completely changed, and many of my peers are being forced into closing or changing their businesses. This doesn't feel like someone else's problem.)
Quick FAQ
残業するしかなかった (common) or 残業せざるを得なかった (more formal).会社の倒産で、転職を余儀なくされた - I was forced to change jobs due to the company's bankruptcy) or when being deliberately sarcastic with friends.を余儀なくされる and せざるを得ない?を余儀なくされる is about the noun-based outcome that was inflicted upon you (the postponement, the cancellation). It's a passive description of a state.せざるを得ない is about the verb-based action you feel obligated to personally take. It describes your reluctant decision to act. Ask yourself: am I talking about the unwelcome result, or the unwelcome action I must perform?中止, 撤退), the grammar transforms it into a single “thing” that is then acted upon by the verb される. This allows the speaker to create psychological and rhetorical distance, presenting the event as a cold, hard fact rather than an action someone took.Causative-Passive Conjugation
| Verb Type | Dictionary Form | Causative-Passive Form |
|---|---|---|
|
Group 1
|
書く
|
書かさせられる
|
|
Group 1
|
話す
|
話させられる
|
|
Group 2
|
食べる
|
食べさせられる
|
|
Group 2
|
見る
|
見させられる
|
|
Irregular
|
する
|
させられる
|
|
Irregular
|
来る
|
来させられる
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contracted Form |
|---|---|
|
書かさせられる
|
書かされる
|
|
食べさせられる
|
食べされる
|
Meanings
This structure expresses that the subject is being forced or coerced by someone else to perform an action.
Coercion
Being forced to do something by an authority figure.
“{先生に|せんせいに}{走らされた|はしらされた}。”
“{親に|おやに}{勉強させられた|べんきょうさせられた}。”
Reluctant Compliance
Doing something because the situation leaves no other option.
“{無理やり|むりやり}{飲まさせられた|のまさせられた}。”
“{行かさせられた|いかさせられた}。”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Agent + ni + Verb(Causative-Passive)
|
{上司に|じょうしに}{行かさせられた|いかさせられた}
|
|
Negative
|
Agent + ni + Verb(Causative-Passive-Negative)
|
{上司に|じょうしに}{行かさせられなかった|いかさせられなかった}
|
|
Past
|
Agent + ni + Verb(Causative-Passive-Past)
|
{上司に|じょうしに}{行かさせられた|いかさせられた}
|
|
Question
|
Agent + ni + Verb(Causative-Passive-Question)?
|
{上司に|じょうしに}{行かさせられたの？|いかさせられたの？}
|
|
Polite
|
Agent + ni + Verb(Causative-Passive-Masu)
|
{上司に|じょうしに}{行かさせられました|いかさせられました}
|
|
Casual
|
Agent + ni + Verb(Causative-Passive-Short)
|
{上司に|じょうしに}{行かさせられた|いかさせられた}
|
Formality Spectrum
{上司に|じょうしに}{働かさせられました|はたらかさせられました}。 (Workplace)
{上司に|じょうしに}{働かさせられました|はたらかさせられました}。 (Workplace)
{上司に|じょうしに}{働かされた|はたらかされた}。 (Workplace)
{上司に|じょうしに}{働かされたわ|はたらかされたわ}。 (Workplace)
The Causative-Passive Flow
Agent
- 上司 Boss
- 親 Parent
Action
- 書く Write
- 走る Run
Examples by Level
{先生に|せんせいに}{書かされた|かかされた}。
I was made to write by the teacher.
{母に|ははに}{野菜を|やさいを}{食べさせられた|たべさせられた}。
I was forced to eat vegetables by my mother.
{上司に|じょうしに}{休日出勤を|きゅうじつしゅっきんを}{させられた|させられた}。
I was forced to work on my day off by my boss.
{無理やり|むりやり}{歌わさせられた|うたわさせられた}。
I was forced to sing against my will.
{先輩に|せんぱいに}{無理な|むりな}{要求を|ようきゅうを}{飲まさせられた|のまさせられた}。
I was forced to accept unreasonable demands by my senior.
{組織の|そしきの}{論理に|ろんりに}{従わさせられた|したがわさせられた}。
I was forced to follow the logic of the organization.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'making someone do' with 'being forced to do'.
Learners use passive for forced actions.
Learners confuse potential with passive.
Common Mistakes
先生に書かせた
先生に書かさせられた
先生が書かさせられた
先生に書かさせられた
書かされた
書かさせられた
食べるさせられた
食べさせられた
行くさせられた
行かさせられた
話すさせられた
話させられた
来るさせられた
来させられた
するさせられた
させられた
見させられた
見させられた
書かされた
書かさせられた
無理やり書かされた
無理やり書かさせられた
上司が強制した
上司にさせられた
食べさせられた
食べさせられた
行かさせられた
行かされた
Sentence Patterns
___に___をさせられた。
無理やり___させられた。
___のせいで、___させられた。
___と言われて、___させられた。
Real World Usage
{上司に|じょうしに}{残業を|ざんぎょうを}{させられた|させられた}。
{友達に|ともだちに}{無理やり|むりやり}{投稿させられた|とうこうさせられた}。
{親に|おやに}{帰らさせられた|かえらさせられた}。
{前職で|ぜんしょくで}{厳しい|きびしい}{環境に|かんきょうに}{置かさせられました|おかさせられました}。
{ガイドに|がいどに}{無理な|むりな}{スケジュールを|すけじゅーるを}{組まさせられた|くまさせられた}。
{店に|みせに}{注文を|ちゅうもんを}{変更させられた|へんこうさせられた}。
Check the Verb Group
Avoid Positive Contexts
Listen for Contractions
Social Nuance
Smart Tips
Use the causative-passive to highlight that you had no choice.
Use it to describe strict parents.
Use it to show you were forced to do extra work.
Use it to describe peer pressure.
Pronunciation
Sase-rareru
Ensure the 'se' is clearly pronounced to distinguish from the simple passive.
Resentful
↗↘
Falling intonation at the end indicates frustration.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Sase-rareru' as 'Sase' (make) + 'rareru' (passive). You were 'made' (sase) and then 'received' (rareru) the action.
Visual Association
Imagine a puppet on strings. The person pulling the strings is the agent, and you are the puppet being forced to move.
Rhyme
When you have no choice and feel the pain, use -saserareru to explain.
Story
I was sitting at my desk. My boss walked in and pointed at the pile of papers. I didn't want to work, but he insisted. I was forced to finish them. {上司に|じょうしに}{書類を|しょるいを}{書かさせられた|かかさせられた}。
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about things you were forced to do as a child.
Cultural Notes
In Japanese companies, this form is used to describe tasks assigned by superiors that the speaker finds burdensome.
Used when children describe strict upbringing.
Common in hierarchical sports clubs.
Derived from the combination of the causative suffix -sase and the passive suffix -rareru.
Conversation Starters
子供の頃、何をさせられましたか？
会社で無理やりさせられたことはありますか？
親に習わさせられたことはありますか？
先輩にさせられた一番嫌なことは何ですか？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
先生に (書く) _________。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
上司が残業させられた。
先生が走らせた。
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
When to use this?
上司に (する) _________。
上司に / させられた / 残業を
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises先生に (書く) _________。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
上司が残業させられた。
先生が走らせた。
食べる -> ?
When to use this?
上司に (する) _________。
上司に / させられた / 残業を
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesシステムトラブルで、一時___を余儀なくされた。
When would you use `〜を余儀なくされる`?
Construct: 'Forced to evacuate due to the fire.'
その事故が彼に引退を余儀なく___。
コスト削減に余儀なくされた。
Match the noun that logically fits being 'forced'.
___なくされる
The company was forced to withdraw.
Can you use this when you are too lazy to cook so you order UberEats?
{計画|けいかく}の___を余儀なくされた。(Forced to change the plan)
Which sentence is unnatural?
The heavy rain forced a cancellation.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
It is common in specific contexts like work or family complaints.
No, it implies you were forced against your will.
It combines two grammatical structures (causative and passive).
Group 1 ends in -u; Group 2 ends in -iru/-eru.
It will sound unnatural or change the meaning.
Yes, in casual speech, but stick to the full form for accuracy.
Most, but some verbs don't make sense in this form.
English uses 'was made to', which is similar.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hacer + infinitive
Japanese uses a single verb form; Spanish uses two words.
Faire + infinitive
Japanese morphology is much more synthetic.
Lassen + infinitive
German relies on auxiliary verbs.
使役受身
None, it is the target.
Form IV/X verbs
Arabic uses root patterns; Japanese uses suffixation.
被 + 使役
Chinese is analytic; Japanese is agglutinative.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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