Causative-Passive (〜させられる): How to Say 'Was Made To Do'
What it means
The causative-passive describes being forced to do an action by someone else — and almost always implies you didn't want to. It stacks two grammar points you already know: the causative (someone makes you act) plus the passive (the action happens to you). The result puts the focus on the put-upon person, who is marked with は/が, while the one doing the forcing takes に.
If "I had to" is your choice, use plain た-form; but if someone made you do it and you resented it, this is the pattern.
ヤッタンは先生に漢字を100回書かせられた。
ヤッタンは せんせいに かんじを ひゃっかい かかせられた。
Yattan was made to write the kanji 100 times by the teacher.
先生に = the one who forced him; clear unwilling nuance.
モチは母にピーマンを食べさせられた。
モチは ははに ピーマンを たべさせられた。
Mochi was made to eat green peppers by her mom.
弟はパーティーで歌を歌わされた。
おとうとは パーティーで うたを うたわされた。
My little brother was made to sing a song at the party.
歌わされた is the contracted form of 歌わせられた.
How to form it
Start from the causative, then attach the passive ending 〜られる to its stem.
| Verb type | Steps | Result |
|---|---|---|
| る-verb (食べる) | 食べ + させる → させ + られる | 食べさせられる |
| う-verb (書く) | 書か + せる → せ + られる | 書かせられる |
| う-verb, contracted | 書かされる (common in speech) | 書かされる |
| う-verb (飲む) | 飲ま + せる / contracted | 飲ませられる / 飲まされる |
| す-ending (話す) | 話さ + せられる — no contraction | 話させられる |
| する | — | させられる |
| 来る (くる) | — | 来させられる (こさせられる) |
Two things to lock in. First, う-verbs usually contract せられる → される in everyday speech: 飲ませられる → 飲まされる. Second, this contraction is blocked for verbs ending in す: 話す becomes 話させられる, never 話さされる (that double さ is too awkward to say).
The される contraction
For most う-verbs, the long 〜せられる shortens to 〜される. Both are correct, but the contracted form is far more common when speaking.
ヤッタンは毎朝走らされる。
ヤッタンは まいあさ はしらされる。
Yattan is made to run every morning.
走らせられる → 走らされる (contracted).
モチは先輩にお酒を飲まされた。
モチは せんぱいに おさけを のまされた。
Mochi was made to drink alcohol by an upperclassman.
But remember the す exception — these stay long:
ヤッタンは社長に長い話を聞かされた。
ヤッタンは しゃちょうに ながい はなしを きかされた。
Yattan was made to listen to the president's long story.
聞く contracts (聞かされた); compare 話す below, which cannot.
弟は先生にみんなの前で話させられた。
おとうとは せんせいに みんなの まえで はなさせられた。
My little brother was made to speak in front of everyone by the teacher.
話す → 話させられた only; 話さされた is wrong.
The put-upon nuance
This form is rarely neutral. Choosing 〜させられる tells the listener the speaker felt burdened, annoyed, or unwilling. It's how you complain about chores, drills, and bosses.
先生にテストを受けさせられて、つかれた。
せんせいに テストを うけさせられて、つかれた。
I was made to take a test by the teacher, and I'm worn out.
The 〜て here links to a tired/complaining result.
ヤッタンは弟に宿題を手伝わされた。
ヤッタンは おとうとに しゅくだいを てつだわされた。
Yattan was made to help with his little brother's homework.
Common mistakes
- Confusing it with the plain causative. 食べさせる = "make (someone) eat"; 食べさせられる = "be made to eat." Add the passive ending only when you are the one forced.
- Contracting す-verbs. 話す → 話させられる only. 話さされる is wrong because the double さ is unpronounceable.
- Marking the forcer with は. The person who forces you takes に (先生に), while the put-upon subject takes は/が.
- Forgetting the unwilling feeling. If the action was your own choice, use plain た-form. 〜させられた specifically signals you were forced and didn't like it.
Quick recap
- Build it in two steps: causative first, then passive → 〜させられる.
- る-verbs: 食べさせられる. する→させられる, 来る→来させられる.
- う-verbs usually contract せられる→される (飲まされる) — except す-verbs (話させられる).
- The forcer takes に; the meaning is "was made / forced to," with a put-upon nuance.
Your turn
Choose the correct causative-passive form (〜させられる / 〜される).
Start the 5-question drill →Take the full N4 〜させられる drill →
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between させる and させられる?
させる is the causative: you make someone do something (食べさせる = make eat). させられる is the causative-passive: you are made to do something (食べさせられる = be made to eat). The passive ending flips the focus onto the forced person.
When does せられる become される?
For most う-verbs in everyday speech: 飲ませられる → 飲まされる, 書かせられる → 書かされる. It's a natural contraction, not a different meaning.
Why can't 話す contract?
Verbs ending in す don't contract because it would create a hard-to-say double さ (話さされる). So 話す stays as 話させられる, with no short form.
Which particle marks the person who forces me?
に. The person doing the forcing is marked with に (先生に書かせられた), while you, the put-upon subject, take は or が.