Passive Form Used as Honorific Expression
Table of Contents
1. Passive Form Used as Honorific Expression
2. How to Form the Passive and Honorific Forms
3. How to Use the Passive Form
4. How to Use Honorific Expressions
5. Special Honorific Forms of Certain Verbs
6. Let’s Think: Passive or Honorific?
7. Summary
8. Similer Articles
9. Comment
Q: In a sentence like “社長は取引先の会長と会われました (The company president met with the chairman of the client company,” why is the passive form “〜れる” used as honorific language?
A: The passive form and the honorific form are actually created using the same conjugation rules.
That’s why, even though they look the same, you need to determine whether it expresses a passive meaning or shows respect as an honorific form based on the context and the relationship with the person involved.
How to Form the Passive and Honorific Forms
| Group | Verb Type | Conjugation Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Godan verbs (U verbs) | Change the final vowel [u] to [a] and add “れる” | 聞く → 聞かれる 飲む → 飲まれる |
| When ending in “う” | Add “わ + れる” | 会う → 会われる | |
| Group 2 | Ichidan verbs (RU verbs) | Add “られる” to the verb stem | 食べる → 食べられる 見る → 見られる |
| Group 3 | Irregular verbs | Memorize the forms as they are | 来る → 来られる する → される |
How to Use the Passive Form
The passive form has the following four main uses.
In general, it expresses that the speaker has received some kind of action from another person.
① General Passive – indicates the receiver of an action
[Example] 知らない人に道を聞かれました。
I was asked for directions by a stranger.
② Passive with Inanimate Subjects – “Non-volitional Passive”
[Example] この建物は100年以上前に建てられました。
This building was constructed over 100 years ago.
③ Possession Passive – when something owned by the speaker receives an action
[Example] 財布が盗まれました。
My wallet was stolen.
④ Adversity Passive – when the speaker is negatively affected by someone’s action
[Example] 夜遅くまで騒がれて、とても迷惑です。
People were being noisy late at night, and it was very annoying.
Want to learn more about the passive form?
How to Use Honorific Expressions
Honorific language is a type of keigo (polite language) used to show respect toward someone of higher status or the subject of the conversation (i.e., the person performing the action).
It is used to politely describe the actions or states of others and to elevate their position.
[Examples]
部長は、先ほど帰られました。
The department manager went home a little while ago.
マネージャーはお客様に会われています。
The manager is meeting with a client.
社長の奥様が作られたクッキーはおいしいです。
The cookies made by the company president’s wife are delicious.
For more details,
see “The Basics of Keigo ①”.
Special Honorific Forms of Certain Verbs
Some verbs have special honorific forms that are different from the passive form.
These are used to express the actions or states of superiors or people being talked about in a more polite and respectful way.
[Common verbs and their honorific forms]
| Plain Form | Honorific Form |
|---|---|
| 行く・来る・いる | いらっしゃいます |
| 食べる・飲む | 召し上がります |
| 言う | おっしゃいます |
| 知っている | ご存じです |
| 見る | ご覧になります |
| する | なさいます |
| くれる | くださいます |
[Examples]
社長は今、どちらにいらっしゃいますか。
Where is the company president now?
部長はお酒を召し上がりますか。
Does the department manager drink alcohol?
本日の新聞をご覧になりましたか。
Have you read today’s newspaper?
昼食は何になさいますか。
What would you like for lunch?
Let’s Think: Passive or Honorific?
Take a look at the following sentences. Are they using the passive form or honorific expression?
[Examples]
① 社長は急に休まれました。
② 急にアルバイトに休まれました。
① 先生は長い時間、話されました。
② 先生に長い時間、話されました。
[Answers and Explanation]
① is honorific in both cases.
These sentences describe the actions of respected individuals like the president or teacher. The subject particle used is “は” or “が,” which is common in honorific expressions.
② is passive in both cases.
They express the speaker being affected by someone else’s action. Note the use of the particle “に,” which signals that the action was received from another person.
[Key Points]
・Use honorific expressions when describing the actions of someone in a higher position.
→ The subject is often marked by “は” or “が”.
・Use the passive form when the speaker is affected by someone else’s actions.
→ The person performing the action is indicated by “に”.
Even though the form “〜れる / 〜られる” looks the same, the meaning can change greatly depending on the particles and the context, so be careful.
Summary
- The passive form and the honorific form follow the same conjugation rules, but their meanings and usage are different.
- There are four types of passive usage: ① General passive ② Passive with inanimate subjects ③ Passive involving possession ④ Adversity passive (expressing unwanted consequences)
- Honorific expressions are used to show respect toward the actions or states of superiors or people being talked about, conveying their behavior politely.
- Pay attention to sentence structure differences:
Honorific: Used to describe the actions or states of superiors; particles like “は” or “が” are used.
Passive: Describes an action received by the speaker; the particle “に” is typically used. - Even though both forms use “〜れる / 〜られる,” the meaning can change greatly depending on the context and the particles used. Careful distinction is essential.
Similer Articles
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