受身形: passive form

受身形 means passive form. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.

This English meaning is written independently from the source list so it answers the learner question directly: what does 受身形 mean and when should you use it?

What does 受身形 mean?

Use 受身形 when you want to express passive form in a Japanese sentence.

Natural translations include:

• passive form
• to express “passive form” naturally
• the closest natural English meaning in context

How to form 受身形

Passive verb form

Examples of the pattern:

• Passive verb form
• 受身形
• related form: させられる

When is 受身形 used?

Use 受身形 in situations like:

• reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
• making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
• recognizing natural grammar in conversation or short passages

Tone and register:

• usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, humble, honorific, or written
• common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday examples

受身形 example sentences

• 私は先生にほめられました。 — I was praised by the teacher.
• 財布を盗まれました。 — My wallet was stolen.
• この本は多くの人に読まれています。 — This book is read by many people.
• 弟にケーキを食べられました。 — My cake was eaten by my younger brother.
• 会議は明日開かれます。 — The meeting will be held tomorrow.

Nuance of 受身形

The key nuance is passive form in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.

This matters because 受身形 often changes the relationship between actions, people, time, or evidence in the sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.

受身形 vs させられる

Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.

受身形:

• is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson
• focuses on passive form

させられる:

• is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms
• may change the tone, evidence, direction, or relationship in the sentence

Quick contrast examples:

• Target pattern: 私は先生にほめられました。 — I was praised by the teacher.
• Related pattern with させられる: compare what changes in evidence, timing, direction, or politeness.

Common mistakes with 受身形

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context
• Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form
• Confusing 受身形 with させられる because the English can sound similar

Is 受身形 on the JLPT?

Yes. 受身形 is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for 受身形

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Write one short sentence using the basic structure.
• Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.
• Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.

Learn 受身形 with Kanjiru

If you want to review 受身形 together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N4 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

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• JLPT N4 grammar lessons