What is the causative form in Japanese?

For ru-verbs, drop the last る (transcribed ru) from the dictionary form and add させる (transcribed saseru).

To make the causative form of a u-verb, drop the last (transcribed u) sound from the dictionary form and add (transcribed aseru) to the remaining verb stem.

The causative forms of our two main irregular verbs should just be memorized. Here they are:

You'll need to use these irregular causative forms for any verbs that are built from a noun + 来る (transcribed kuru) or する (transcribed suru):

Did you notice that causative verbs all end with せる (transcribed seru) regardless of the verb group? In fact, all causative verbs conjugate as ru-verbs.

Have a look at the conjugation of the causative verb 書かせる (transcribed kakaseru, meaning “to make (someone) write”):

There is an alternative set of conjugation rules for the causative verbs. Let’s call it the short form since it’s shorter than the regular causative verbs (at least in the plain form).

All the short-form causative verbs end with す (transcribed su) and conjugate as u-verbs. However, the short form version is old-fashioned expressions and less commonly used today. When used, it implies a little more direct intervention than the regular version.

For example, 食べさす (transcribed tabesasu) (a short form) is often used to mean “to feed (someone)” as in spoon-feeding a baby. 食べさせる (transcribed tabesaseru) (a long form), on the other hand, can be used to mean either “to feed (someone)” or “to let (someone) eat,” as in cooking a meal for a child so that they can eat it on their own.

When you use a transitive verb in a causative sentence, the actor is marked with the particle に (transcribed ni), and the direct object is marked with the particle を (transcribed o), as usual. A transitive verb is an action that is done to something, like "hitting," "reading," or "watching."

Check out our post on transitive vs. intransitive verbs in Japanese to learn more about transitive actions.

When you use an intransitive verb in a causative sentence, the actor will sometimes be marked by the particle を (transcribed o) and other times by the particle に (transcribed ni). Here are some rules to follow to figure out which particle is most appropriate:

1. Movement verbs: に (transcribed ni)

   If the verb is a movement verb, and the particle を (transcribed o) is used to mark an area that the actor is traveling through, you'll mark the actor with に (transcribed ni), as a way to distinguish the two.

   Actor + に

   

   Location + を

   

   Movement

   先生は園児たちに歩道を歩かせた。

   Transcription: Sensei wa arukaseta.

   Translation: The teacher made the kindergarteners walk on the sidewalk.

2. Verbs for natural phenomena: を (transcribed o)

   When something allows or causes a natural phenomenon to take place, the actor is always marked by を (transcribed o).

   Actor + を

   

   Natural Phenomenon

   お隣からもらった刺身を腐らせた。

   Transcription: Otonari kara moratta kusaraseta.

   Translation: I let the sashimi my neighbor gave me go bad.

   Some verbs that might be used in this kind of sentence might include 咲く (transcribed saku, meaning “to bloom”), 降る (transcribed furu, meaning “to fall (rain)”), and 腐 (transcribed kusaru, meaning “to rot”).

3. Verbs for passing feelings: を (transcribed o)

   When something causes someone to experience a passing feeling, the actor (or the person experiencing the feelings) is marked by を (transcribed o).

   Actor/Experiencer + を

   

   Passing Feeling

   そのニュースは国民を驚かせた。

   Transcription: Sono nyūsu wa odorokaseta.

   Translation: The news surprised the people.

   Some verbs you might use in a sentence like this might be 驚く (transcribed odoroku, meaning “to be surprised”), がっかりする (transcribed gakkari suru, meaning “to be disappointed”), and 怒る (transcribed okoru, meaning “to get mad”).

4. The actor has no will of its own: を (transcribed o)

   If the actor is a machine or a tool that has no will of its own, it should be marked byを (transcribed o)

   Actor (no will) + を

   

   Intransitive

   JRが臨時列車を走らせた。

   Transcription: Jeiāru ga hashiraseta.

   Translation: Japan Railroad made the special train run.

5. Forcing: を (transcribed o)

   If the actor is forced to do something, either against their will or without consideration of what they would prefer to do, that actor is usually marked by を (transcribed o).

   Actor (forced) + を

   

   Intransitive

   ジョンはいやがる子供を学校に行かせた。

   Transcription: John wa iyagaru gakkō ni ikaseta.

   Translation: John made the reluctant child go to school.

6. Allowing: に (transcribed ni)

   In a causative sentence where the actor's desires are taken into account, as when someone is allowed to do something, the actor is usually marked with に (transcribed ni).

   Actor (allowed) + に

   

   Intransitive

   両親は約束どおり娘に留学させた。

   Transcription: Ryōshin wa yakusokudōri ryūgakusaseta.

   Translation: The parents let their daughter go abroad to study as they promised.

There are some restrictions on what verbs we can use in causative sentences. Let’s find out what they are!

The coercive causative is when some causer uses their power to make or force the actor to do something.

• This can be something that the actor does against their will:

  父親は幼いモーツァルトに朝から晩までピアノを練習させた。

  Transcription: Chichioya wa osanai Mōtsaruto ni asa kara ban made piano o renshū saseta.

  Translation: The father forced young Mozart to practice piano from morning till night.

  Mozart did not have a choice, he did it against his will.

• Or it can be a case where the causer simply does not consider what the actor wants:

  先生は園児たちに歩道を歩かせた。

  Transcription: Sensei wa enjitachi ni hodō o arukaseta.

  Translation: The teacher made the kindergarteners walk on the sidewalk.

  Maybe the kids were happy to walk on the sidewalk, but they did not have a choice.

The permissive causative, on the other hand, is when the causer lets or allows someone to do something or allows something to happen.

• This can mean that the causer gives the actor explicit permission to do something. In this case, the causer has authority, and uses it to tell the actor "yes."

  (私は) 週末は子供たちに好きなだけゲームをさせています。

  Transcription: (Watashi wa) shūmatsu wa kodomotachi ni sukina dake gēmu o sasete imasu.

  Translation: During the weekend, I let my children play games as much as they want.

  I told my children, "you may play games as much as you want" and then they did.

• This can also mean that the causer did not prevent the actor from acting, even though they might have.

  あの家の親は子供に好き勝手なことをさせている。

  Transcription: Ano uchi no oya wa kodomo ni sukikattena koto o sasete iru.

  Translation: The parents in that household let their children do as they please.

  The parents never pay any attention to the children so they have no idea what they're doing.

  Or it can mean that the causer did not prevent something from happening all on its own.

  お隣からもらった刺身を腐らせた。

  Transcription: Otonari kara moratta sashimi o kusaraseta.

  Translation: I let the sashimi my neighbor gave me go bad.

  I could have put it in the fridge, but I did not.

Finally, the causer can be responsible for an action taking place without actually intending for it to happen.

• Sometimes the causer does something to trigger the action. This is common when someone does something that causes someone else to react with a feeling or expression of emotion.

  弟はおどけて、みんなを笑わせた。

  Transcription: Otōto wa odokete, min’na o warawaseta.

  Translation: My younger brother fooled around and made us all laugh.

• Other times, the causer feels responsible for an accident that might have been prevented.

  (僕は) 練習中に、佐藤君にけがをさせた。

  Transcription: (Boku wa) renshūchū ni, Satō kun ni kega o saseta.

  Translation: I caused an injury to Sato during our practice.

  When the causer feels regret or remorse for what they have done, the causative verb often takes the “te-form + しまう (transcribed shimau)” structure.

  te-formしまう [shimau]

  (僕は) 練習中に、佐藤君にけがをさせてしまった。

  Transcription: (Boku wa) renshūchū ni, Satō kun ni kega o sasete shimatta.

  Translation: I regrettably caused an injury to Sato during our practice.