Passive Form: Being Done To
Quick Answer: Group 1: change u→a + れる (読む→読まれる). Group 2: drop る→られる (食べる→食べられる). Irregular: する→される, 来る→来られる. The agent uses に. Japanese has a unique 'suffering passive' for unwanted actions.
When the action happens to you — including the 'suffering passive'
Category: Verb Forms
The Rule
Group 1: change u→a + れる (読む→読まれる). Group 2: drop る→られる (食べる→食べられる). Irregular: する→される, 来る→来られる. The agent uses に. Japanese has a unique 'suffering passive' for unwanted actions.
Why This Matters
English passive ('The book was read') is straightforward. Japanese passive has an extra dimension: the 'suffering passive' (迷惑の受身), where the subject is negatively affected. '雨に降られた' = 'I was rained on (and it ruined my day).' This has no English equivalent and expresses the speaker's inconvenience.
Examples
• この本は世界中で読まれています。 — "This book is read around the world." [Standard passive: 読む → 読まれる] • 先生に褒められました。 — "I was praised by the teacher." [Agent marked with に] • 電車で足を踏まれた。 — "Someone stepped on my foot on the train." [Suffering passive — the speaker is the victim] • 雨に降られて、びしょ濡れになった。 — "I got rained on and became soaking wet." [Suffering passive with intransitive verb — unique to Japanese]
Common Mistakes
❌ 先生は褒められました。 ✅ 先生に褒められました。 → The agent (doer) in passive takes に, not は. は marks the topic/receiver. 先生は would make the teacher the one being praised ❌ 読むれる ✅ 読まれる → Group 1: change to a-row + れる. 読む → 読ま + れる. Don't keep the u-sound
Quick Tip
The suffering passive is one of the most Japanese-specific grammar points. If someone did something that inconvenienced you — even if the action wasn't directed at you — you can use passive to express your displeasure.
The suffering passive is one of the most Japanese-specific grammar points. If someone did something that inconvenienced you — even if the action wasn't directed at you — you can use passive to express your displeasure.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 先生は褒められました。 → Correct: 先生に褒められました。. The agent (doer) in passive takes に, not は. は marks the topic/receiver. 先生は would make the teacher the one being praised
Incorrect: 読むれる → Correct: 読まれる. Group 1: change to a-row + れる. 読む → 読ま + れる. Don't keep the u-sound
Quiz
What does 「彼女に泣かれた」 mean?