JLPT N4 Passive Verbs – Complete Guide with Examples

If you are preparing for JLPT N4, one essential grammar point to master is Passive Verbs (うけみけい). Passive verbs are used when someone is affected by someone else’s action. Understanding them clearly will help you read, write, and speak Japanese naturally.

1. What is a Passive Verb?

A passive verb shows that something happens to the subject. In English, it often translates as “be + past participle”, but in Japanese, it is also used when:

Someone does something to you

Expressing annoyance or inconvenience

Describing an action happening to someone

Example:

わたしはともだちにしかられました。 (I was scolded by my friend.)

Here, わたし is affected by the action しかる (to scold).

2. How to Make Passive Verbs

a) う-verbs: Remove the う ending, change it to あ sound + れる

かく → かかれる (to be written)

のむ → のまれる (to be drunk)

b) る-verbs: Drop る, add られる

たべる → たべられる (to be eaten)

みる → みられる (to be seen)

c) Irregular verbs:

する → される

くる → こられる

3. Passive Verb Table (Compact Reference)

Verb Type Dictionary Form Passive Form Example Sentence Meaning

う-verb かくかかれるてがみはわたしにかかれました。 The letter was written by me

う-verb のむのまれるビールはかれにのまれました。 The beer was drunk by him

る-verb たべるたべられるケーキはねこにたべられました。 The cake was eaten by the cat

る-verb みるみられるえいがはみんなにみられました。 The movie was watched by everyone

Irregular するされるしゅくだいはせんせいにされました。 The homework was done by the teacher

Irregular くるこられるにほんへはさくらさんにこられました。 Sakura came to Japan affecting someone

4. When to Use Passive Verbs

Neutral (someone does something to you):

ともだちにほめられました。 (I was praised by my friend.)

Annoyance or inconvenience:

わたしはいぬにかまれました。 (I got bitten by a dog – unpleasant.)

Describing an event happening to someone:

ちずはせんせいにみせられました。 (The map was shown to the teacher.)

> Tip: Passive verbs in N4 are often about personal experience or someone affecting you.

5. Quick Practice Examples

1. ぼくはかれにてがみをよまれました。

2. ケーキはねこにたべられました。

3. ともだちにうそをつかれました。

4. じてんしゃはこどもにこわされました。

Identify the subject (affected), doer (who acts), and the verb (passive form).

6. Tips to Master Passive Verbs

Memorize う-verbs, る-verbs, and irregular verbs transformations

Understand the difference between neutral and annoying actions

Practice sentences like someone does something to you

Read examples from Minna no Nihongo 2 for context

Summary: Passive verbs are crucial for JLPT N4. They help express actions done to you or others, indicate annoyance, and describe events happening to someone. Practice conjugation, read examples, and use the table above to master them quickly

JLPT N4 Grammar: Passive Verbs Explained with Examples | Minna no Nihongo 2