Japanese Verb Passive Form

V-られる・動詞受身形・どうしうけみけい

1. What is the Passive Form?

The passive form (受け身形) is a verb form that expresses the subject as the receiver or sufferer of an action. In Japanese, the passive form is used to indicate that someone or something is affected by the action of another.

2. Main Uses of the Passive Form

Indicates Passive Action: Emphasizes the receiver of the action.
Expresses Feelings or States: Describes a change in emotion or state.
Highlights the Object: Focuses on the passive subject rather than the agent.

3. Formation of the Passive Form

The way to form the passive form depends on the category of the verb. The basic construction of the passive form involves changing the verb form.

3.1 Group 1 Verbs (五段動詞 - Godan Verbs)

For Group 1 verbs, the passive form is typically created by replacing the final syllable of the verb with "れる."

Verb Ending	Passive Ending	Example (Dictionary Form)
～う	→ ～われる	会う (あう) → 会われる (あわれる)
～つ	→ ～たれる	持つ (もつ) → 持たれる (もたれる)
～る	→ ～られる	取る (とる) → 取られる (とられる)
～む	→ ～まれる	飲む (のむ) → 飲まれる (のまれる)
～ぬ	→ ～なれる	死ぬ (しぬ) → 死なれる (しなれる)
～ぶ	→ ～ばれる	遊ぶ (あそぶ) → 遊ばれる (あそばれる)
～く	→ ～かれる	書く (かく) → 書かれる (かかれる)
～ぐ	→ ～がれる	泳ぐ (およぐ) → 泳がれる (およがれる)
～す	→ ～される	話す (はなす) → 話される (はなされる)

3.2 Group 2 Verbs (一段動詞 - Ichidan Verbs)

For Group 2 verbs, simply remove the final "る" and add "られる."

Verb Ending	Passive Ending	Example (Dictionary Form)	Example (Passive Form)
～る	→ ～られる	食べる (たべる) → 食べられる (たべられる)
		見る (みる) → 見られる (みられる)

3.3 Irregular Verbs (不規則動詞 - Irregular Verbs)

The main irregular verbs have the following changes in their passive forms:

Verb	Passive Ending	Example (Dictionary Form)	Example (Passive Form)
する	→ される	する → される
来る (くる)	→ 来られる (こられる)	来る (くる) → 来られる (こられる)

4. Examples of Passive Form in Sentences

Here are some examples showing how the passive form is used in different contexts:

Using the Passive Form to Describe Passive Actions:
- 私は彼に本を読まれた。
  (I was read a book by him.)
Using the Passive Form to Express Feelings:
- その映画に感動された。
  (I was moved by that movie.)
Using the Passive Form to Emphasize the Object:
- 彼女は友達に助けられた。
  (She was helped by a friend.)
Using the Passive Form to Describe a State:
- この問題は解決されていない。
  (This problem has not been resolved.)
Using the Passive Form to Indicate the Effect of an Action:
- 私は犬に噛まれた。
  (I was bitten by a dog.)

5. Summary

The passive form in Japanese is an important structure for expressing passive relationships. Understanding its formation and usage helps learners express passive actions and states more accurately. In actual communication, using the passive form can enrich the language and make it more diverse.