Introduction
How are these two sentences different? Look carefully:
- A: "The teacher praised me." (I was praised by the teacher)
- B: "I praised the teacher." (I did something to someone)
The form られる (-rareru) is like a versatile actor in Japanese who plays three completely different roles. Although the appearance changes slightly depending on the verb group, grammatically it has three essential functions.
This lesson will show you the three main meanings: passive voice, potential form, and honorific language. We'll even understand the mysterious "ranuki kotoba" (word without "ra") that confuses Japanese people themselves!
📖 Contents of This Lesson
- The Three Faces of られる
- Passive Voice: The voice of the receiver
- Potential Form: The power to do something
- Honorific Language: Showing respect to superiors
- Bonus: Ranuki kotoba (word without "ra")
- Summary Table and Distinguishing the Three Uses
The Three Faces of られる
Conjugation by Verb Group
The form られる (-rareru) is constructed differently depending on the verb group. Here's how:
Group 1 (ending in -u):
- For passive and honorific: change the ending "u" to "a" and add "reru"
- Kaku (to write) → Kakareru
- Nomu (to drink) → Nomareru
- Hanasu (to speak) → Hanasareru
- For verbs ending in "u" (like "kau"): use "wa"
- Kau (to buy) → Kawareru
- For potential form: change to the e-row and add "ru"
- Kaku (to write) → Kakeru
- Nomu (to drink) → Nomeru
- Hanasu (to speak) → Hanaseru
Group 2 (ending in -ru):
- Remove "ru" and add "rareru"
- Taberu (to eat) → Taberareru
- Miru (to see) → Mirareru
- Okiru (to wake up) → Okirareru
⚠️ Important: For Group 2, the passive form, potential form, and honorific form are identical. You cannot determine if "taberareru" is passive or potential just by looking at it. Context is key!
Group 3 (irregular verbs):
- Suru (to do) → Sareru (passive, honorific) / Dekiru (potential)
- Kuru (to come) → Korareru (passive, honorific, potential)
🎭 Passive Voice: The Voice of the Receiver
Listen to how the Japanese passive works
51 secondsA clip from a short YouTube video, explanation included.
Read the transcript
If you say "joushi ga okorimashita" to mean
"my boss scolded me," that's off.
It only means "my boss got angry."
Nothing happened to you in that sentence.
In Japanese, if something is done to you, use passive.
Big clue: particle "ni" 「に」. Not "wo" 「を」.
上司に怒られた → I was scolded by my boss
犬に噛まれた → I was bitten by a dog
友達に笑われた → I was laughed at by my friend
And here's the nuance.
「怒られた」 is not just neutral grammar.
It often feels like "Ugh, this happened to me."
Face #1 done.
Full breakdown is in the long video.
Understanding the Passive Voice
Imagine it's Monday morning. You arrive at work and get a call from your boss. "My boss yelled at me..." How do you feel? Worst Monday ever, right? This is the passive voice.
The Most Important Thing: The Particle "に (ni)"
In the passive voice, we use "ni" to mark the agent (the person performing the action). Not "o".
Inu ni kamareta. — I was bitten by a dog. Tomodachi ni warawareta. — I was laughed at by my friends. Sensei ni homerareta. — I was praised by my teacher.
Meiwaku ukemi: Passive with "inconvenience"
Here comes something surprising. The Japanese passive voice has a special nuance: it often implies feelings of "inconvenience" or "being affected negatively".
Ame ni furareta. — I was rained on. (Actually: "The rain caused me trouble") Kodomo ni nakareta. — The child cried. (Actually: "The child cried and caused me trouble")
In English and Spanish, passive voice primarily describes facts. But in Japanese, it conveys feelings of inconvenience at the same time. That's a big difference!
Practical Examples
Joshi ni okorareta. — I was scolded by my boss. Sensho ni maketa. — I lost against the champion. Seito ni shitsurei sareta. — I was insulted by a student.
Quiz 1 ✏️ Practice Questions ①
Think of your answer before opening the solution.
Identify if these sentences have passive voice. Look for the particle "ni":
- Ani ni nagurareta.
- Kare wa Kyoto ni iku.
- Densha ni noriokureta.
💡 Show Answer
- ✓ Passive (I was hit by my older brother)
- ✗ Not passive (He goes to Kyoto)
- ✓ Passive (I missed the train)
💪 Potential Form: The Power to Do Something
Writing letters in Japanese
4 secondsThe example sentences, recorded one by one.
Read the transcript
日本語で手紙を書くことができます。
I can write letters in Japanese.
Asking if someone can do something
6 secondsThe example sentences, recorded one by one.
Read the transcript
自転車に乗ることができますか。
Can you ride a bicycle?
はい、乗ることができます。
Yes, I can.
What you can and can't do
14 secondsThe example sentences, recorded one by one.
Read the transcript
ひらがなを読むことができます。
I can read hiragana.
カレーを作ることができます。
I can make curry.
泳ぐことができますか。
Can you swim?
いいえ、泳ぐことができません。
No, I can't swim.
Listen to how られる expresses ability
49 secondsA clip from a short YouTube video, explanation included.
Read the transcript
If you say "Natto ga tabemasu"
for "I can eat natto," that's wrong.
It sounds like "natto eats."
"I eat" is tabemasu.
"I can eat" needs the potential form.
納豆が食べられる → I can eat natto
日本語が話せる → I can speak Japanese
泳げる？ → Can you swim?
Same ending, different meaning.
"ga" is usually potential (safe for class and tests),
"wo" can appear in casual speech,
"ni" often points to passive.
Passive, potential, respectful, and ra-nuki are connected.
Full map is in the long video.
See you next time!
What is the Potential Form?
The potential form expresses "can do" or "cannot do". It's one of the most useful forms in Japanese.
Natto ga taberaremasu ka? — Can you eat natto?
Foreigners coming to Japan are definitely asked this question.
How to Form the Potential
Group 2:
- Taberareru (can eat)
- Mirareru (can see)
- Okirareru (can wake up)
Group 1:
- Change to the e-row and add "ru"
- Nomeru, hanaseru, kakeru
Examples of Potential Form
Karai mono ga taberareru. — I can eat spicy food. Nihongo ga hanaseru. — I can speak Japanese. Oyogeru? — Can you swim? Kare wa piano ga hikeru. — He can play the piano.
The Problem: Passive or Potential?
Here comes the challenge. Look at this sentence:
"Taberareru" — Is it passive voice? Or potential?
The answer is determined by context.
Tip 1: Look at the Particle
- "Ga" → Often indicates potential (in exams, it's almost always potential)
- "O" → Can also indicate potential in casual conversations
- "Ni" → Indicates passive voice
"Nihongo ga hanaseru." → Potential (I can speak Japanese) "Sensei ni homerareta." → Passive (I was praised by my teacher)
Tip 2: Think About Who the Agent Is
- If it's "I can do ~" → Potential
- If it's "Someone did ~ to me" → Passive
Quiz 2 ✏️ Practice Questions ②
Think of your answer before opening the solution.
Decide if it's passive or potential:
- Kodomotachi ga nete iru. (The children sleep / can sleep)
- Kare ni awareta. (I met the boy / I was seen by the boy)
- Eigo ga hanaseru. (I can speak English / English was spoken)
💡 Show Answer
- Potential (context: sleeping, ability)
- Passive (particle ni)
- Potential (particle ga + clear ability)
👑 Honorific Language: Showing Respect to Superiors
Listen to the honorific use of られる
60 secondsA clip from a short YouTube video, explanation included.
Read the transcript
「先生が怒られた」 is tricky.
In some contexts, it can mean
"the teacher was scolded."
But with teacher or boss context, it is often respectful.
Use particles as clues, not absolute rules.
先生に怒られた → I was scolded by the teacher (passive)
先生が怒られた → (often) The teacher got angry (respectful, by context)
社長が来られた → The president came (respectful)
先生は何を食べられましたか？ → What did the teacher eat? (respectful)
お酒をやめられたんですか？ → Did you quit drinking? (respectful)
Best rule: particles + context + social status.
Same ending, multiple meanings.
Face #3 done.
See you next time!
The Biggest Surprise
This might be the biggest surprise of this lesson. Look at this example:
"Korareta." — It looks passive, doesn't it?
In this sentence, it's NOT passive. It's honorific language.
How It Works
When the subject is a superior, the passive form can be used as honorific language. It's a way to express respect toward the person performing the action.
Shacho ga korareta. — The president came. (expressing respect) Sensei wa nani o taberaremashita ka? — What did the teacher eat? (polite form)
Another Interesting Example
"Osake o yamerareta n desu ka?" — Did you quit drinking? (polite question to a boss or teacher)
Fun fact: In Spanish, this expression is A1/A2 level (beginner). But in Japanese, it's intermediate-level honorific language!
Distinguishing Passive and Honorific
This isn't an absolute rule, but here's the practical way:
"Sensei ni ~ sareta" → Passive (The teacher did something to me)
"Sensei ga ~ sareta" → Honorific (Politely expressing the teacher's action)
Key rule:
- If the agent is marked with "ni" → Passive
- If the subject is a superior and marked with "ga" → Honorific
Quiz 3 ✏️ Practice Questions ③
Think of your answer before opening the solution.
Identify if it's passive or honorific:
- Senpai ni warawareta. (I was criticized by a senior)
- Sensei ga irasshaimashita. (The teacher arrived)
- Kaisha no buchou ga owatari ni naranai deshou. (The division chief won't make a special trip)
💡 Show Answer
- Passive (ni marks the agent affecting me)
- Honorific (superior subject, expresses respect)
- Honorific (superior person, ga marks the subject)
🎁 Bonus: Ranuki Kotoba (Word Without "Ra")
Tabereru or Taberareru?
This is a question that confuses even Japanese people.
"Tabereru" vs. "Taberareru" — Which one is correct?
In exams: "taberareru" is the correct answer.
In daily conversation: "tabereru" is commonly used.
This is called "ranuki kotoba" (word without "ra"). It's the potential form of Group 2 verbs with the "ra" omitted.
Taberareru → Tabereru Mirareru → Mireru Okirareru → Okireru
Why Did This Happen?
The reason is simple: For Group 2, passive and potential are identical.
It's confusing whether "taberareru" is passive or potential. So more and more people started using the form without "ra" for potential. This is to differentiate it from passive.
Real-Life Example
At a zoo:
"Koko de gorira ga mirareru." ← Formal (can see the gorilla) "Koko de gorira ga mireru." ← Colloquial (can see the gorilla)
Both mean the same thing. Both are understood.
What Matters is Context
Remember: A teacher might mark "ranuki" as incorrect on an exam. But your Japanese friends use it every day. What's important is knowing when to use which form depending on the situation.
"Ranuki kotoba" is a phenomenon of language change. It's spreading rapidly through manga, social media, and youth slang. Japanese is a living language!
Summary: The Three Faces of られる
| Form | Function | Key Particle | Example |
| Passive | Receiving an action | に (ni) | Sensei ni homerareta (I was praised) |
| Potential | Can do something | が (ga) or を (o) | Nihongo ga hanaseru (I can speak Japanese) |
| Honorific | Respect to superiors | が (ga) | Shacho ga korareta (The president came) |
| Ranuki | Potential without "ra" (colloquial) | が (ga) | Gorira ga mireru (Can see the gorilla) |
Key to Distinguishing Them
- Look at the particle: ni → passive; ga → potential/honorific
- Think about context: Who performs the action? Who receives it?
- Consider formality level: Is it formal or casual?
- Identify the subject: Is it a superior? It might be honorific.
▶️ Short videos for this article:
- My boss got angry (Passive)
- Can you eat natto? (Potential)
- The teacher got angry (Honorific)
- Even Japanese people can't agree (Ra-nuki)
💡 Tip: These shorts explain each use of られる quickly. But to truly master all three faces (passive, potential, and honorific), I recommend watching the full lesson in Japanese. Turn on English subtitles and you'll see the difference:
▶️ Watch the full lesson (with subtitles)
🎓 Want to Practice More
Would you like to practice these forms directly with me?
On YouTube, you learn grammar rules, but with Preply, we practice real conversations. I'll show you how to use られる in authentic contexts and assess your level of understanding.
Looking forward to meeting you!
And if you haven't already, hit that subscribe button! New lessons drop every week.