「Learn Japanese」 Passive Form (Adversity with Intransitive Verbs)

「Learn Japanese」 Passive Form (Adversity with Intransitive Verbs)

The Adversity Passive Form, also known as the Indirect Passive Form, is one of two versions of the Passive Form in the Japanese language. As opposed to making the direct object or the indirect object of the verb the subject of the sentence like the Simple Passive Form (also known as the Direct Passive Form) does, the Adversity Passive Form instead makes the entity adversely affected by the actions of the verb the subject of the sentence.

Additionally, the Adversity Passive Form is used with both transitive verbs and intransitive verbs. As should be self-explanatory, when used with transitive verbs, the subject of the sentence is an entity being adversely affected by the actions another entity has performed to something other than itself. When used with intransitive verbs, the subject of the sentence is an entity being adversely affected by the actions another entity has performed unto itself.

Example(s):

昨日雨に降られた。
Kinou ame ni furareta.
(I got caught in the rain yesterday.)

昨日私の猫に死なれた。
Kinou watashi no neko ni shinareta.
(Yesterday my cat died on me.)

教室でジョージワシントンは隣の人にくしゃみされて病気になった。
Kyoushitsu de George Washington wa tonari no hito ni kushami sarete byouki ni natta.
(George Washington was adversely affected by the person next to him in class sneezing and became sick.)

✧¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸✧

Support Learning Japanese on Patreon!
Please do consider checking out our milestone goals to improve our channel and supporting the continuation of this video series by becoming a patron!

Learning Japanese is on Tumblr!
Follow us on Tumblr to stay up to date with the newest videos as well as gain access to additional content such as interest articles, kanji lessons, "Japanese Phrases of the Day," vocabulary lists, and more!

For the sub-domain dedicated to the Japanese grammar patterns covered in this video series and other aspects of learning the Japanese language and culture, visit

This video series is presented by becauseofdreams

All media presented in this video is created and owned by becauseofdreams or is used with complete permissions.

✧¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸✧

*Please do leave a comment below if you notice any potential errors so that we may include a notification about it in-time for future viewers!

*When leaving a comment, please do enable replies if you would like a response to your question, comment, and or concern.

Edit(s):

[RustieMcHogg]

Great lesson. Intransitive passive was a mystery to me!

[TokyoMakes]

I think of this form in English as equivalent to '~ up and ~ on [adversely affected person]', like 'my cat up and died on me', or 'the person next to George Washington up and sneezed on him'. This may only work for native English speakers, who can imagine the natural nuance of this phrase, but I think it generally conveys the nuance of the Japanese in a way that translations using formal or standard English cannot.

[geethamenon]

wish you would speak simple english and more japanese

[quimiorlando]

Learn Japanese, I think you said morau means to give, but I remember it means to receive. Correct me if I am wrong.