Understanding the Japanese Passive Voice (受身形)
The Japanese passive voice, known as 受身形 (ukemikei), is used to express that an action is done to the subject. While it shares some similarities with the English passive voice, Japanese has unique features—most notably the "suffering passive" (迷惑の受身), which conveys that the subject is negatively affected by the action. Mastering this form is essential for natural and nuanced expression.
Basic Structure and Conjugation
The passive form is created by conjugating verbs into their passive form. Here’s how to conjugate different verb types:
| Verb Type | Dictionary Form | Passive Form |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (う-verbs) | 書く (kaku) - to write | 書かれる (kakareru) |
| Group 2 (る-verbs) | 食べる (taberu) - to eat | 食べられる (taberareru) |
| Irregular | する (suru) - to do | される (sareru) |
| Irregular | 来る (kuru) - to come | 来られる (korareru) |
Tip: For Group 2 verbs, the passive form is the same as the potential form! Context will tell you which meaning is intended.
Direct Passive: When the Subject Receives the Action
The direct passive is similar to the English passive voice. The subject is directly acted upon by someone or something. The agent (doer) is often marked by に (ni) or によって (ni yotte).
この本は有名な作家に書かれました。 Kono hon wa yūmei na sakka ni kakaremashita. This book was written by a famous author.
窓が弟に壊された。 Mado ga otōto ni kowasareta. The window was broken by my younger brother.
Indirect (Suffering) Passive: Unique to Japanese
This is where Japanese passive usage diverges significantly from English. The suffering passive (迷惑の受身) indicates that the subject is indirectly or adversely affected by an action, even if they aren't the direct object. It often conveys annoyance, inconvenience, or emotional impact.
電車で隣の人に足を踏まれた。 Densha de tonari no hito ni ashi o fumareta. I had my foot stepped on by the person next to me on the train. (And I was inconvenienced by it.)
友達に来られて、勉強できなかった。 Tomodachi ni korarete, benkyō dekinakatta. My friend came over (unexpectedly), and I couldn't study. (I was negatively affected.)
Warning: The suffering passive is very common in spoken Japanese. Avoid direct literal translation from English, as it often won't convey the same nuance.
More Examples Showing Nuance and Usage
雨に降られて、服が濡れてしまった。 Ame ni furarete, fuku ga nurete shimatta. I got caught in the rain, and my clothes got wet. (I was inconvenienced.)
子供に泣かれて、よく眠れなかった。 Kodomo ni nakarete, yoku nemurenakatta. My child cried (on me), and I couldn't sleep well.
彼女に秘密をばらされた。 Kanojo ni himitsu o barasareta. I had my secret spilled by her. (And I suffered because of it.)
先生に褒められた。 Sensei ni homerareta. I was praised by the teacher. (Neutral or positive—direct passive.)
Using Passive with Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Transitive verbs (which take a direct object) are commonly used in direct passive constructions. Intransitive verbs (which don't take an object) are often used in the suffering passive to show that the action happened to the subject's detriment.
父に死なれた。 Chichi ni shinareta. I suffered the loss of my father. (He died, and it affected me deeply.)
Tip: The particle に marks the agent (the one doing the action), while が marks the subject (the one receiving or affected by the action).
Practice
Try converting these active sentences into passive ones, choosing whether to use direct or suffering passive based on context:
- 友達が私のケーキを食べた。(Tomodachi ga watashi no kēki o tabeta.) - My friend ate my cake.
- 犬が私の手を噛んだ。(Inu ga watashi no te o kanda.) - The dog bit my hand.
- 先生が学生を叱った。(Sensei ga gakusei o shikatta.) - The teacher scolded the student.
Now, try translating these English sentences into Japanese using the appropriate passive form:
- I had my wallet stolen on the train.
- The report was written by Tanaka.
- My boss left early (and it caused me trouble).
Key Takeaways
- The Japanese passive voice is formed by conjugating verbs to end in ーられる or ーれる.
- Direct passive is used when the subject is directly acted upon (similar to English passive).
- The suffering passive (indirect passive) is unique to Japanese and expresses that the subject is adversely affected by an action.
- Intransitive verbs are often used in the suffering passive to show inconvenience or emotional impact.
- Particles に (agent) and が (subject) are key to constructing passive sentences correctly.
Understanding and using the passive voice, especially the suffering passive, will greatly enhance your ability to express nuanced feelings and situations in Japanese. Practice often, and pay attention to how native speakers use it in context!