“Causative-Passive (〜saserareru)”: Being Made to Do 〜 [JLPT N4]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「残業させられた」「食べたくないのに食べさせられた」 — being forced/reluctantly made to do something.
“Causative-Passive (〜saserareru)”: Being Made to Do 〜
The causative-passive (させられる) means “to be forced/reluctantly made to do 〜 (by someone)” — a combination of ‘causative (させる) ＋ passive (られる),' from the made-party's (the forced one's) viewpoint, with a victimized, complaining nuance. E.g. 「毎日上司に残業させられた」 (I was made to work overtime every day by my boss), 「嫌いな野菜を食べさせられた」 (I was made to eat vegetables I dislike), 「子供の頃、ピアノを練習させられた」 (as a child, I was made to practice piano (by my parents)). ⚠️ The forcer is marked with 「に」 (上司に). ⚠️ Godan verbs have a colloquial contracted form 「〜される」 (飲ませられる→飲まされる).
🧠 Core nuance: forced, reluctantly made to do (the victim's viewpoint)
The core is from the forced party's standpoint, expressing ‘being made (by someone) to do what one doesn't want to' (victimized, complaining): 「〜させられる」 expresses the made-party being forced, reluctantly doing an action (残業させられた = made to work overtime, 食べさせられた = made to eat, 練習させられた = made to practice), with a reluctant, victimized, complaining emotion. ⚠️ Contrast: 「させる (causative)」 = the causer's viewpoint ‘make/force … to do' (I make him do: 子供に野菜を食べさせる = I make my child eat vegetables); 「させられる (causative-passive)」 = the made-party's viewpoint ‘being made to do' (I'm made to eat: 野菜を食べさせられた = I'm made to eat vegetables)! Opposite standpoints. ⚠️ The forcer (agent) is marked with 「に」 (上司に残業させられた = made to work overtime by the boss). ⚠️ Conjugation: ichidan→させられる (食べる→食べさせられる); godan→させられる/contracted される (書く→書かせられる/書かされる, 飲む→飲ませられる/飲まされる), the colloquial contracted 「〜される」 being common; する→させられる, 来る→来させられる. An important N4 passive-causative expression.
📌 How to Connect
| Verb type | Causative-passive | Contracted (colloquial) |
|---|---|---|
| ichidan | 食べる→食べさせられる | — |
| godan | 飲む→飲ませられる | 飲まされる |
| する/来る | させられる/来させられる | — |
| (agent) | 〜に〜させられる | 上司に残業させられた |
💬 Example Sentences
- 毎日、上司に残業させられている。(I'm made to work overtime every day by my boss.) — forced (agent with に)
- 子供の頃、嫌いな野菜を食べさせられた。(As a child, I was made to eat vegetables I disliked.) — reluctant
- 親にピアノを練習させられたが、今は感謝している。(I was made to practice piano by my parents, but now I'm grateful.) — victimized → retrospect
- 飲み会で、無理やりお酒を飲まされた。(At the party, I was forced to drink.) — godan contracted
- 長時間待たされた末、やっと順番が来た。(After being made to wait a long time, my turn finally came.) — contracted
🔄 Compare: させられる(causative-passive) vs させる(causative) vs られる(passive) vs てもらう
| Expression | Viewpoint/Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜させられる | made to do (made-party's viewpoint, complaining) | 食べさせられた |
| 〜させる | make/force … to do (causer's viewpoint) | 食べさせる |
| 〜られる | be 〜ed (general passive) | 食べられた |
| 〜てもらう | have … do for me (benefit) | 食べてもらう |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- させられる vs させる: させられる = made to do (made-party, complaining); させる = make … do (causer) — opposite standpoints!
- Agent uses に: the forcer uses 「に」 (上司に残業させられた).
- Godan contracted form: godan colloquially uses 「〜される」 (飲まされる, 書かされる); but す-ending verbs don't contract (話させられる).
- Carries a complaining nuance: させられる carries a reluctant, victimized complaint.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
The causative-passive (させられる) means “to be forced/reluctantly made to do 〜 (by someone),” from the made-party's viewpoint, with a victimized, complaining nuance (残業させられた, 食べさせられた, 練習させられた). ⚠️ Opposite standpoint from the causer's-viewpoint 「させる (make/force … to do)」. The forcer uses 「に」. Godan colloquially uses the contracted 「〜される」 (飲まされる). An important N4 expression for ‘being made to.'
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N4 core: 〜させられる = made to do (the made-party's viewpoint, complaining); the agent (forcer) uses に.
- Core distinction: させられる (made to do, made-party) vs させる (make … do, causer) — opposite standpoints!
- Conjugation: godan colloquially uses the contracted 〜される (飲まされる); ichidan→させられる, する→させられる.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. What is the causative-passive (contracted form) of 「飲む」?
(A) 飲まされる (B) 飲まれさせる (C) 飲ませられる (D) 飲まれた
Q2. What is the core nuance of the causative-passive?
(A) actively doing something
(B) being forced/made to do something reluctantly (victim/complaint)
(C) allowing someone to do something
(D) making someone do something
Q3. What does 「嫌いな食べ物を食べさせられた」 mean?
(A) I forced others to eat food they dislike
(B) I was forced to eat food I dislike (reluctantly)
(C) I like eating that food
(D) no one forced me to eat
Q4. What's the difference between 「させられる」 and 「させる」?
(A) identical
(B) させる is the causer's view (make … do); させられる is the causee's view (be forced to do)
(C) させる is past; させられる is present
(D) entirely different connections
Q5. What does 「子供の頃ピアノを練習させられた」 imply?
(A) I willingly enjoyed practicing piano
(B) I was forced (by parents etc.) to practice piano as a child (reluctant, with a hint of complaint)
(C) I make my child practice piano
(D) practicing was my own decision
Answer Key
1. (A) 飲まされる ── the contracted causative-passive of 飲む (飲ませられる → 飲まされる).
2. (B) ── being forced/made to do something reluctantly (a victim/complaint perspective).
3. (B) ── 食べさせられた = was forced to eat (reluctantly).
4. (B) ── させる is the causer's view (make … do); させられる is the causee's view (be forced to do).
5. (B) ── ‘was made to practice piano as a child' (reluctant, with a nostalgic complaint).