させる
- 1To make someone do something.Ex. 1
- 2To let or allow someone to do something.Ex. 2
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Neutral in speech and writing, this form presents an action from the causer’s viewpoint. It is common when someone directs or permits another person’s action; context, rather than the form alone, indicates whether the action is required or allowed.
Learners should use に for the person made to act when the verb already has a direct object, as in 学生に本を読ませる.
Note that 五段動詞 take せる, not させる: standard Japanese uses 読ませる, not 読まさせる.
Do not assume a superior cannot be the person made to act; whether the phrasing is presumptuous depends on context.
- させられるN4「させられる」is the passive of 「させる」: the subject becomes the person made to do something, the one forcing them is marked with 「に」, and reluctance is often implied. It can also express being moved to feel something involuntarily, as in 「考えさせられる」. The perspective is the reverse, so the two cannot be swapped.
- させてくださいN4「させてください」is the て-form of 「させる」 plus 「ください」, used to ask someone to let you or your side do something, as in 「考えさせてください」. 「させる」itself only states causation and carries no request nuance, so the two cannot be swapped.
- てもらうN3「させる」means the causer orders or allows someone else to act, not necessarily for one's own benefit. 「てもらう」takes the beneficiary as subject and means asking for or receiving someone's help, with gratitude implied. Use 「てもらう」when asking for a favor; the two generally cannot be swapped.
- 〜ように言うN4「〜ように言う」only conveys an instruction, request, or reminder in words (the negative form can be used to tell someone not to do something) and does not guarantee the other person complies. 「させる」means the causer forces or allows the other person to act. They are similar only in the sense of 'telling someone to do' something and should not be swapped.
- てくれるN4「させる」is driven by the causer, who makes someone act or brings about an emotion. 「てくれる」means someone does something for our benefit, and 「〜てくれない？」is used to ask for a favor. The two cannot be swapped; 「させてくれる」means the other person allows me to do something.
させられる presents being made to act from that person’s side, while させてください asks permission to act oneself. てもらう and てくれる express an action as a favor, and 〜ように言う reports telling someone to act rather than using a causative form.
