N4Lesson 39 of 436 min
Causative form
Making and letting someone do something, and the polite request built from it.
The causative covers both "make someone do" and "let someone do". Japanese uses one form for both, and the particle tells you which is meant.
| Group | Rule | Dictionary | Causative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | u-sound → a-sound + せる | 行く | 行かせる |
| Group 1 | 読む | 読ませる | |
| Group 2 | drop る, add させる | 食べる | 食べさせる |
| Group 3 | irregular | する | させる |
| Group 3 | 来る | 来させる |
Make versus let
| Particle | Sense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜を | Made them (no choice) | 子供を行かせました |
| 〜に | Let them (they wanted to) | 子供に行かせました |
- 母は私に部屋を掃除させました はははわたしにへやをそうじさせましたहाहा वा वाताशि नि हेया ओ सोउजि सासेमाशिताMy mother made me clean my room
- 子供に好きな物を食べさせます こどもにすきなものをたべさせますकोदोमो नि सुकि ना मोनो ओ ताबेसासेमासुI let my child eat what they like
〜させていただきます: the very polite request
Causative plus the humble もらう. Literally "I will humbly receive permission to do it". It is the standard formal way to announce your own action in business Japanese.
- 休ませていただきます やすませていただきますयासुमासेते इतादाकिमासुI would like to take a day off
- 説明させていただきます せつめいさせていただきますसेत्सुमेइ सासेते इतादाकिमासुAllow me to explain