Be A-ed, when the action is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when the action is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when something negative/troubling is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when the person/thing doing the action does not need to be mentioned in the sentence.
- Be A-ed, when someone/something else does something undesirable. The action does not need to be directed to the speaker.
- A does B The passive form can be used as an honorific form, so A would be someone above the speaker (boss, customer, etc.)
Join for free or Login to study this and other grammar in the lesson Passive Tense!

The fish was eaten by the cat.
23点
I was idly chatting in the middle of class, so I was warned by the teacher.
18点
If you're called by me, please present in front of the class.
36点
I'm called 'teacher' by the students.
20点
This number is not being used. (As in a phone company's recorded message)
4点
This comic book is mainly read by women.
3点
My little brother is loved by my grandfather.
2点
The puppies were, one by one, taken by acquaintances of my mother and father.
Getting the sentences
1. Determine if it's a godan or ichidan verb
How do I determine the type of the verb?
2. Conjugating the verbs
Godan verbs
1. Change the last character from its 'u' form to the 'a' form.
む (mu) => ま (ma)
す (su) => さ (sa)
う (u) => わ (wa)
ぬ (nu) => な (na)
つ (tsu) => た (ta)
ぶ (bu) => ば (ba)
く (ku) => か (ka)
ぐ (gu) => が (ga)
る (ru) => ら (ra)
1. Change the last character from its 'u' form to the 'a' form.
む (mu) => ま (ma)
す (su) => さ (sa)
う (u) => わ (wa)
ぬ (nu) => な (na)
つ (tsu) => た (ta)
ぶ (bu) => ば (ba)
く (ku) => か (ka)
ぐ (gu) => が (ga)
る (ru) => ら (ra)
Ichidan verbs
1. Change the る from the end of the verb to ら (ra)
1. Change the る from the end of the verb to ら (ra)
Special cases
1a. する (to do) is changed to さ.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to こら.
1a. する (to do) is changed to さ.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to こら.
2. Add れる to make the passive form.
Conjugation & examples
Usage:
Person は Actor に Act (Action+Verb)
私は友達にお菓子をたべられる
I had my candy eaten by a friend.
Let's conjugate the godan verb 書く/かく (to write):
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: かく
1. かく -> かか
2. かか -> かかれる (written by)
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: たべる
1. たべる -> たべら
2. たべ -> たべられる (eaten by)
Where this grammar is found
JLPT N4: Passive Tense
Genki II (2nd Edition): Chapter 21
Nihongo So-Matome N3 (日本語総まとめ): 第1週 1日目
Nihongo So-Matome N4 (日本語総まとめ): 第4週 4日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第1部 24課
Genki II (2nd Edition): Chapter 21
Nihongo So-Matome N3 (日本語総まとめ): 第1週 1日目
Nihongo So-Matome N4 (日本語総まとめ): 第4週 4日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第1部 24課
User notes
0点
In the passive voice the subject is what would be considered the object in active voice.
An example would be: (Active) He broke the mirror. 彼は鏡を割りました。
(Passive) The mirror was broken by him. 鏡は彼に割られました。
You must be careful as Ichidan verbs are conjugated the same way as potential form (can).
You can tell the difference because the one doing the action in passive form (him/彼) is marked with the particle に.
An example would be: (Active) He broke the mirror. 彼は鏡を割りました。
(Passive) The mirror was broken by him. 鏡は彼に割られました。
You must be careful as Ichidan verbs are conjugated the same way as potential form (can).
You can tell the difference because the one doing the action in passive form (him/彼) is marked with the particle に.
6 years ago

Be A-ed, when something negative/troubling is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when the action is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when something negative/troubling is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when the person/thing doing the action does not need to be mentioned in the sentence.
- Be A-ed, when someone/something else does something undesirable. The action does not need to be directed to the speaker.
- A does B The passive form can be used as an honorific form, so A would be someone above the speaker (boss, customer, etc.)
Join for free or Login to study this and other grammar in the lesson Passive Tense!
16点
Yesterday, my little brother was hit by my older brother and cried.
26点
My mom got mad because I lied.
6点
A strong wind blew and my cap was swept away.
3点
My older sister was dumped again by a guy.
2点
Yesterday my older brother was mean to me and I cried.
Getting the sentences
1. Determine if it's a godan or ichidan verb
How do I determine the type of the verb?
2. Conjugating the verbs
Godan verbs
1. Change the last character from it's 'u' form to the 'a' form.
む (mu) => ま (ma)
す (su) => さ (sa)
う (u) => わ (wa)
ぬ (nu) => な (na)
つ (tsu) => た (ta)
ぶ (bu) => ば (ba)
く (ku) => か (ka)
ぐ (gu) => が (ga)
る (ru) => ら (ra)
1. Change the last character from it's 'u' form to the 'a' form.
む (mu) => ま (ma)
す (su) => さ (sa)
う (u) => わ (wa)
ぬ (nu) => な (na)
つ (tsu) => た (ta)
ぶ (bu) => ば (ba)
く (ku) => か (ka)
ぐ (gu) => が (ga)
る (ru) => ら (ra)
Ichidan verbs
1. Change the る from the end of the verb to ら (ra)
1. Change the る from the end of the verb to ら (ra)
Special cases
1a. する (to do) is changed to さ.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to こら.
1a. する (to do) is changed to さ.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to こら.
2. Add れる to make the passive form.
Conjugation & examples
Usage:
Person は Actor に Act (Action+Verb)
私は友達にお菓子をたべられる
I had my candy eaten by a friend.
Let's conjugate the godan verb 書く/かく (to write):
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: かく
1. かく -> かか
2. かか -> かかれる (written by)
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: たべる
1. たべる -> たべら
2. たべ -> たべられる (eaten by)
Where this grammar is found
JLPT N4: Passive Tense
Genki II (2nd Edition): Chapter 21
Nihongo So-Matome N3 (日本語総まとめ): 第1週 1日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第1部 24課
Genki II (2nd Edition): Chapter 21
Nihongo So-Matome N3 (日本語総まとめ): 第1週 1日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第1部 24課
User notes
Be A-ed, when the person/thing doing the action does not need to be mentioned in the sentence.
- Be A-ed, when the action is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when something negative/troubling is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when the person/thing doing the action does not need to be mentioned in the sentence.
- Be A-ed, when someone/something else does something undesirable. The action does not need to be directed to the speaker.
- A does B The passive form can be used as an honorific form, so A would be someone above the speaker (boss, customer, etc.)
Join for free or Login to study this and other grammar in the lesson Passive Tense!
19点
This car was made ten years ago.
4点
This novel was written in the 19th century.
2点
This story has been passed down from ancient times.
2点
This dish had been made since the Edo period.
Getting the sentences
1. Determine if it's a godan or ichidan verb
How do I determine the type of the verb?
2. Conjugating the verbs
Godan verbs
1. Change the last character from it's 'u' form to the 'a' form.
む (mu) => ま (ma)
す (su) => さ (sa)
う (u) => わ (wa)
ぬ (nu) => な (na)
つ (tsu) => た (ta)
ぶ (bu) => ば (ba)
く (ku) => か (ka)
ぐ (gu) => が (ga)
る (ru) => ら (ra)
1. Change the last character from it's 'u' form to the 'a' form.
む (mu) => ま (ma)
す (su) => さ (sa)
う (u) => わ (wa)
ぬ (nu) => な (na)
つ (tsu) => た (ta)
ぶ (bu) => ば (ba)
く (ku) => か (ka)
ぐ (gu) => が (ga)
る (ru) => ら (ra)
Ichidan verbs
1. Change the る from the end of the verb to ら (ra)
1. Change the る from the end of the verb to ら (ra)
Special cases
1a. する (to do) is changed to さ.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to こら.
1a. する (to do) is changed to さ.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to こら.
2. Add れる to make the passive form.
Conjugation & examples
Usage:
Person は Actor に Act (Action+Verb)
私は友達にお菓子をたべられる
I had my candy eaten by a friend.
Let's conjugate the godan verb 書く/かく (to write):
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: かく
1. かく -> かか
2. かか -> かかれる (written by)
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: たべる
1. たべる -> たべら
2. たべ -> たべられる (eaten by)
Where this grammar is found
User notes
Be A-ed, when someone/something else does something undesirable.
The action does not need to be directed to the speaker.
- Be A-ed, when the action is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when something negative/troubling is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when the person/thing doing the action does not need to be mentioned in the sentence.
- Be A-ed, when someone/something else does something undesirable. The action does not need to be directed to the speaker.
- A does B The passive form can be used as an honorific form, so A would be someone above the speaker (boss, customer, etc.)
Join for free or Login to study this and other grammar in the lesson Passive Tense!

I went to the hot springs, but I was stung by an insect.
11点
While I was playing outside it started to rain!
13点
A robber broke in while I was gone.
3点
My wallet was stolen!
5点
It's heart-breaking to have a person's life suddenly taken.
3点
The man who was killed was a resident of that room.
Getting the sentences
1. Determine if it's a godan or ichidan verb
How do I determine the type of the verb?
2. Conjugating the verbs
Godan verbs
1. Change the last character from it's 'u' form to the 'a' form.
む (mu) => ま (ma)
す (su) => さ (sa)
う (u) => わ (wa)
ぬ (nu) => な (na)
つ (tsu) => た (ta)
ぶ (bu) => ば (ba)
く (ku) => か (ka)
ぐ (gu) => が (ga)
る (ru) => ら (ra)
1. Change the last character from it's 'u' form to the 'a' form.
む (mu) => ま (ma)
す (su) => さ (sa)
う (u) => わ (wa)
ぬ (nu) => な (na)
つ (tsu) => た (ta)
ぶ (bu) => ば (ba)
く (ku) => か (ka)
ぐ (gu) => が (ga)
る (ru) => ら (ra)
Ichidan verbs
1. Change the る from the end of the verb to ら (ra)
1. Change the る from the end of the verb to ら (ra)
Special cases
1a. する (to do) is changed to さ.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to こら.
1a. する (to do) is changed to さ.
1b. くる (to come) is changed to こら.
2. Add れる to make the passive form.
Conjugation & examples
Usage:
Person は Actor に Act (Action+Verb)
私は友達にお菓子をたべられる
I had my candy eaten by a friend.
Let's conjugate the godan verb 書く/かく (to write):
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: かく
1. かく -> かか
2. かか -> かかれる (written by)
Now let's conjugate the verb 食べる/たべる (to eat), which is an ichidan verb:
Basic Examples
Before we start: たべる
1. たべる -> たべら
2. たべ -> たべられる (eaten by)
Where this grammar is found
JLPT N4: Passive Tense
Genki II (2nd Edition): Chapter 21
Nihongo So-Matome N3 (日本語総まとめ): 第1週 1日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第1部 24課
Genki II (2nd Edition): Chapter 21
Nihongo So-Matome N3 (日本語総まとめ): 第1週 1日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第1部 24課
User notes
A does B
The passive form can be used as an honorific form, so A would be someone above the speaker (boss, customer, etc.)
- Be A-ed, when the action is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when something negative/troubling is directed at the subject.
- Be A-ed, when the person/thing doing the action does not need to be mentioned in the sentence.
- Be A-ed, when someone/something else does something undesirable. The action does not need to be directed to the speaker.
- A does B The passive form can be used as an honorific form, so A would be someone above the speaker (boss, customer, etc.)
0点
He drove.
0点
Mr. Tanaka sang.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
社長は行かれます (the boss goes)
Where this grammar is found
User notes
Discussion about this grammar

Years Studied: 5
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 545
Studying: JLPT N1
1点
10 years ago

Grammar mod.
Level: 1,
好 : 460
3点
10 years ago

Years Studied: 5
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 545
Studying: JLPT N1
1点
10 years ago (Edited 10 years ago.)

Grammar mod.
Level: 1,
好 : 460
0点
10 years ago

Years Studied: 5
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 545
Studying: JLPT N1
0点
10 years ago

Grammar mod.
Level: 1,
好 : 460
0点
10 years ago

Site admin
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
0点
10 years ago

Years Studied: 5
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 545
Studying: JLPT N1
0点
10 years ago

Site admin
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
0点
10 years ago

Years Studied: 5
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 545
Studying: JLPT N1
0点
10 years ago

Site admin
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
0点
10 years ago

Grammar mod.
Level: 1,
好 : 460
0点
10 years ago

Years Studied: 5
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 545
Studying: JLPT N1
0点
10 years ago (Edited 10 years ago.)

Years Studied: 7
Studying: JLPT N3
Level: 1,
好 : 191
Studying: JLPT N3
1点
10 years ago
guest
1点
8 years ago

Site admin
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
3点
8 years ago
guest
0点
8 years ago

Site admin
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
2点
8 years ago

Years Studied: ~5
Studying: Intermediate Japanese
Level: 1,
好 : 55
Studying: Intermediate Japanese
0点
8 years ago

Years Studied: Never enough!
Studying: 漢字
Level: 1,
好 : 556
Studying: 漢字
0点
8 years ago (Edited 8 years ago.)

Years Studied: Since 2010
Studying: JLPT N1
Level: 1,
好 : 202
Studying: JLPT N1
0点
8 years ago

Years Studied: since 2000
Studying: 自分のため、日本語教師だから
Level: 434,
好 : 4,472
Studying: 自分のため、日本語教師だから
1点
8 years ago
Level: 1,
好 : 2
2点
7 years ago

Site admin
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
0点
7 years ago

Years Studied: 6
Studying: JLPT 3
Level: 13,
好 : 9
Studying: JLPT 3
0点
4 years ago (Edited 4 years ago.)

Site admin
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
0点
4 years ago

Years Studied: ???
Studying: JLPT N2/N1 -------- 33 Games Completed in Japanese
Level: 106,
好 : 328
Studying: JLPT N2/N1 -------- 33 Games Completed in Japanese
1点
9 months ago

Site admin
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
Level: 51, 好 : 4,874
2点
9 months ago
閉
Suggest a related meaningPlease use the below search to find other grammar elements that are related to this meaning.
One suggestion = 2 genki points.
One suggestion = 2 genki points.
閉
Suggest politeness levelsWhat politeness/usage markers apply to this grammar usage?
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One suggestion = 2 genki points.