〜させる — Make or let someone do it | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

The causative form shows that someone makes another person do an action or lets them do it.

Formation

Group 1: the -i syllable shifts to the -a row plus せる: 読みます → 読ませる; a stem ending in the kana い (買い) gives わ
Group 2: ます → させる: 食べます → 食べさせる
Group 3: させる, 来させる (kosaseru)
With a transitive verb the doer takes に, with an intransitive one を or に

When to use it

Core use: Make or let someone do it

Examples

20 sentences

母ははは私わたしに野菜やさいを食べたべさせます
My mother makes me eat vegetables.
先生せんせいは学生がくせいにもう一度いちど読まよませました
The teacher made the students read it one more time.
父ちちは弟おとうとを一人ひとりで買い物かいものに行かいかせました
My father let my younger brother go shopping by himself.
店長てんちょうは私わたしに新しいあたらしいポスターを作らつくらせました
The manager made me create a new poster.
医者いしゃは患者かんじゃを少しすこし休まやすませました
The doctor let the patient rest for a while.
難しいむずかしい顔かおをしていたのでみんなを心配しんぱいさせてしまいました
Because I looked serious, I made everyone worry.
母ははは子どもこどもを外そとで遊ばあそばせました
The mother let the child play outside.
先生せんせいは学生がくせいに意見いけんを言わいわせました
The teacher made the student state an opinion.

12 more examples

上司じょうしは疲れたつかれた社員しゃいんを休まやすませました
The supervisor let the tired employee rest.
その映画えいがは多くおおくの人ひとを泣かなかせました
That film made many people cry.
先生せんせいは生徒せいとを朝あさ早くはやく学校がっこうに来こさせました
The teacher made the pupils come to school early in the morning.
姉あねは私わたしに犬いぬの散歩さんぽをさせました
My older sister made me walk the dog.
母ははは弟おとうとに部屋へやの掃除そうじをさせました
My mother made my younger brother clean the room.
部長ぶちょうは私わたしを一時間いちじかんも待たまたせました
The manager made me wait a whole hour.
母ははは子どもこどもに好きすきな本ほんを選ばえらばせました
The mother let her child choose a book they liked.
先生せんせいは学生がくせいに最後さいごまで友達ともだちの話はなしを聞かきかせました
The teacher made the students listen to their classmate until the end.
先生せんせいは学生がくせいに短いみじかい作文さくぶんを書かせましたかかせました
The teacher had the students write a short essay.
私わたしは友達ともだちを笑わわらわせました
I made my friend laugh.
親おやは子どもこどもに好きすきな映画えいがを見みさせました
The parents let their child watch a film they liked.
父ちちは私わたしに車くるまを洗わあらわせました
My father made me wash the car.

Important notes

The causative can express making someone act or allowing them to act.

Common mistakes

Context decides force versus permission; the causative form alone does not mean the person was unwilling.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 上司じょうしは疲れたつかれた社員しゃいんを休まやすませました It is okay to sit here.I must practice kanji every day.The supervisor let the tired employee rest.
Sentence 2: 母ははは子どもこどもに好きすきな本ほんを選ばえらばせました The mother let her child choose a book they liked.May I borrow this book?I must return the library book.
Sentence 3: 父ちちは私わたしに車くるまを洗わあらわせました I must get up early tomorrow.My father made me wash the car.It is okay to eat first.

Similar grammar

Hear it in podcasts

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

母とピアノN4 · 2 min 45 s