Passive Voice in Japanese

Passive voice is a grammatical construction used to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. It allows us to shift the focus from the subject performing the action to the object receiving the action. In Japanese, the passive voice is formed by using the appropriate verb conjugation and particles. Here are some key points about the passive voice in Japanese:

1. Passive Verb Forms

In Japanese, the passive voice is formed by changing the verb ending to "-られる" ("-rareru") for u-verbs, "-れる" ("-reru") for ru-verbs, and "-される" ("-sareru") for irregular verbs.

Examples:

食べる (taberu) - to eat (active voice) → 食べられる (taberareru) - to be eaten (passive voice)

書く (kaku) - to write (active voice) → 書かれる (kakareru) - to be written (passive voice)

2. Subject Particle

In passive sentences, the subject particle "に" ("ni") is used to indicate the entity that receives the action.

Examples:

リンゴが彼に食べられた。 (Ringo ga kare ni taberareta.) - The apple was eaten by him.

手紙が私に書かれた。 (Tegami ga watashi ni kakareta.) - The letter was written by me.

3. Object Particle

In passive sentences, the object particle "が" ("ga") is used to mark the doer or agent of the action.

Examples:

彼にリンゴが食べられた。 (Kare ni ringo ga taberareta.) - He ate the apple. (literal translation: The apple was eaten by him.)

私に手紙が書かれた。 (Watashi ni tegami ga kakareta.) - I wrote the letter. (literal translation: The letter was written by me.)

Using the passive voice allows us to shift the focus in a sentence and highlight the recipient or the action itself. It is commonly used in Japanese to convey a sense of politeness, formality, or when the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant. Practice constructing and understanding passive sentences to enhance your language skills and express ideas with precision in Japanese.

Remember, the passive voice is just one aspect of Japanese grammar, and mastering its usage will contribute to your overall fluency and understanding of the language.