N4 Verb Forms

使役しえき形けい: meaning, usage and examples

使役しえき形けい means: Verb Causative-form.

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 飲のませる、食たべさせる、させる、来こさせる

   [Causative-form] of drink, eat, do, come

2. 母ははは子供こどもに野菜やさいを食たべさせます。

   The mother makes her child eat vegetables.

3. 先生せんせいは学生がくせいに作文さくぶんを書かかせました。

   The teacher made the students write an essay.

4. 子供こどもたちを公園こうえんで遊あそばせました。

   I let the children play in the park.

5. 山田やまださんはいつもみんなを笑わらわせます。

   Ms. Yamada always makes everyone laugh.

When to use it

The causative form means "make someone do" or "let someone do." The person who causes it is the subject, and the person who does the action is marked with に or を. 先生せんせいは学生がくせいに作文さくぶんを書かかせました (The teacher made the students write an essay). 子供こどもを公園こうえんで遊あそばせました (I let the children play in the park).

Nuance

Whether it means "make" or "let" depends on context. Use it for people of equal or lower status, such as children, students or juniors. Using it about superiors sounds rude. With feelings it means "cause": 母ははを心配しんぱいさせました (I made my mother worry). させてください asks for permission.

Compare

に vs を: with a verb that already has an object, the doer takes に (子供こどもに野菜やさいを食たべさせる). With a verb without an object, を often means you made them do it and に that you let them (子供こどもを行いかせる vs 子供こどもに行いかせる). Causative vs passive: 書かかせる (make write) vs 書かかれる (be written).

Tip: Do not mix it up with the passive: causative has -せる (飲のませる), passive has -れる (飲のまれる).

More on this in Japanese passive and causative forms.