What Textbooks Say

Anyone who has studied Japanese knows the causative-passive form, 〜させられる (saserareru). Textbooks translate it as "to be made to do something."

For example:

• 先生に漢字を百回書かされた。(Sensei ni kanji wo hyakkai kakasareta.)

• I was made by the teacher to write the kanji 100 times.

This is technically correct, but it's missing 90% of the speaker's true feelings! 😠

How Japanese People Use It to "Vent"!

In real life, 〜させられる is the grammar of dissatisfaction. When a Japanese person uses this structure, they aren't just reporting an event; they are subtly sending a powerful message:

"I had to do it, and I absolutely did not want to! It was annoying and unfair!"

This is a very nuanced way to vent frustration. It's not a direct complaint, but rather a way of sharing one's suffering to seek sympathy. 😫

Let's look at real-life examples!

Scenario 1: The After-Work Party 🍻

Your friend tells you:

昨日、部長に３時間もカラオケを歌わされたんだよ… (Kinou, buchou ni san-jikan mo karaoke wo utawasaretan dayo...)

• Literal Translation: Yesterday, I was made to sing karaoke for 3 hours by my boss.
• Real Meaning: "Ugh, yesterday the boss forced me to sing karaoke for a whole 3 hours. I was so exhausted and didn't want to be there at all. What a pain!"

See? A whole universe of dissatisfaction is packed into the word 歌わされた.

Scenario 2: Taking the Blame 😤

A colleague sighs and says:

彼がミスしたのに、僕が責任を取らされた。 (Kare ga misu shita noni, boku ga sekinin wo torasareta.)

• Literal Translation: Even though he made the mistake, I was made to take responsibility.
• Real Meaning: "He's the one who screwed up, but in the end, I was the one who had to take the fall. It's so unfair!"

取らされた here isn't just "was made to"; it carries a strong sense of injustice and being cornered.

✨ Pro-Tip for You

The next time you hear a Japanese person use 〜させられる, don't just understand the literal meaning. Listen for the emotion behind it.

🎧 Focus on their dissatisfaction, reluctance, and feeling of being a "victim." By simply responding with something like 「大変でしたね」(Taihen deshita ne - That must have been tough), you'll show that you're an incredibly empathetic and sharp listener!