「せる/させる」- Causative Form
Explanation
The causative form in Japanese is used to express making or letting someone do something, including commands, instructions, or permissions. In Japanese, the causative form is created by adding 「せる」 or 「させる」 to the verb's imperfective form, depending on the type of verb.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Godan Verbs | Imperfective form + せる | Used for godan verbs to express making someone do something. |
| Ichidan Verbs | Imperfective form + させる | Used for ichidan verbs to express making someone do something. |
| Irregular Verbs | する → させる、 |
Used for irregular verbs to express making someone do something. |
Basic Usage
「〜せる」 and 「〜させる」 are used in Japanese to express making or letting someone do something. This can include commands, permissions, or allowing someone to do something.
Examples
母 は私 を買 い物 に行 かせた。- Haha wa watashi o kaimono ni ikaseta.
- My mother made me go shopping.
部下 に今日 は残業 せず帰 りたいと言 われたのですぐ帰 らせた。- Buka ni kyou wa zangyou sezu kaeritai to iwareta node sugu kaeraseta.
- My subordinate said they wanted to go home without overtime, so I let them leave immediately.
風 が入 ってきて寒 いので、友達 に窓 を閉 めさせた。- Kaze ga haitte kite samui node, tomodachi ni mado o shimesaseta.
- Since the wind was coming in and it was cold, I made my friend close the window.
Deep Dive
The causative form can express both forceful commands and non-forceful permissions, depending on the context.
Forceful Commands
課長 は部下 を出張 させます。- Kachou wa buka o shucchou sasemasu.
- The manager makes the subordinate go on a business trip.
母 は弟 をアメリカ へ留学 させます。- Haha wa otouto o amerika e ryuugaku sasemasu.
- My mother is making my younger brother study abroad in America.
Non-Forceful Permissions
お姉 さんは子供 を笑 わせました。- Oneesan wa kodomo o warawasemashita.
- The older sister made the child laugh.
母 は子供 を遊 ばせています。- Haha wa kodomo o asobaseteimasu.
- My mother is letting the child play.
Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs
When using transitive verbs, the pattern is usually 「XはYにZをVさせる」, while intransitive verbs use 「XはYをVさせる」.
Examples
田中 さんは部下 にレポート を書 かせた。- Tanaka-san wa buka ni repooto o kakaseta.
- Tanaka made his subordinate write a report.
母 は子供 を遊 ばせた。- Haha wa kodomo o asobaseta.
- My mother let the child play.
Advanced Usage
The causative form can also be combined with other forms, such as 「させておく」 to let someone continue doing something, or 「させてもらう」 to request permission for someone to do something.
Examples
先生 は学生 に本 を読 ませました。- Sensei wa gakusei ni hon o yomasemashita.
- The teacher made the students read the book.
Comparison and Differences
The causative form differs from other expressions in terms of the strength of the command and the context in which it is used.
| Expression | Usage | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜せる/させる | Forceful command | The manager makes the subordinate go on a business trip. | |
| 〜てください | Request | Please have the subordinate write the report. | |
| 〜てもらう | Requesting someone to do something | I will have the subordinate write the report. |
Summary
「〜せる/させる」 is an essential grammar point in Japanese for expressing the causative form, which is used to make or let someone do something, including commands, permissions, or allowing actions. Mastering this grammar will help improve the accuracy and fluency of your Japanese communication.