させる

させる means make or let someone do. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express that one person causes another person to perform an action.

This grammar point often appears in conversation, written explanations, formal notices, and JLPT-style reading questions. If you want to express the idea of making or letting someone do something in natural Japanese, させる is a useful pattern to learn after the N5 basics.

What does させる mean?

Use させる when you want to show that someone causes, allows, or forces another person to do something.

Natural translations include:

• make someone do
• let someone do
• the causative form

The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on what the grammar point does in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.

How to form させる

Attach させる to the verb stem to create the causative form.

Group 1 (Godan / u-verbs): change the final u sound to an a sound and add せる

• 書かく → 書かかせる
• 行いく → 行いかせる
• 遊あそぶ → 遊あそばせる

Group 2 (Ichidan / ru-verbs): drop る and add させる

• 食たべる → 食たべさせる
• 見みる → 見みさせる

Group 3 (Irregular):

• する → させる
• 来くる → 来こさせる

Common sentence patterns:

• Causer は Doer に Action させる
• Causer は Doer を Action させる (common with intransitive verbs for direct control)

Pay attention to the word form before the pattern. Many JLPT N4 mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong verb stem.

When is させる used?

Use させる in situations like:

• giving orders, instructions, or permission to another person
• describing social interactions where one person controls another’s action
• understanding natural Japanese in conversation, formal notices, and reading

Tone and register:

• neutral; common in both casual conversation and formal contexts
• frequently appears in daily speech, textbook examples, and JLPT N4 reading questions

させる example sentences

• 母ははは子こどもに野や菜さいを食たべさせました。 — The mother made the child eat vegetables.
• 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 essays.
• 私わたしは弟おとうとを先さきに行いかせました。 — I let my younger brother go first.
• 上司じょうしは私わたしに説明せつめいさせました。 — My boss made me explain.
• 子こどもを公園こうえんで遊あそばせました。 — I let the child play in the park.

Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: the causer, the person being controlled, and the action they are made or allowed to perform.

Nuance of させる

The key nuance is causing another person to perform an action. The same form can express strong coercion (make) or relaxed permission (let), depending on the verb, the particles, and the surrounding context.

This matters because させる may look simple in English, but the Japanese form tells you whether the speaker is describing control, permission, or a social relationship.

For example:

• With transitive verbs, the person being caused to act is usually marked by に.
• With intransitive verbs, the same person may be marked by に (indirect) or を (direct), which changes the nuance from permission to stronger control.
• Compared with させられる, it has a different focus even when both patterns appear in similar sentences.

させる vs させられる

Both させる and させられる involve causing an action, but they are different.

させる:

• causative form: you make or let someone else do something
• the subject is the person giving the order or permission

させられる:

• passive causative form: you are made to do something by someone else
• the subject is the person being forced to act

Quick contrast examples:

• 母ははは子こどもに野や菜さいを食たべさせました。 — The mother made the child eat vegetables.
• 子こどもは母ははに野や菜さいを食たべさせられました。 — The child was made to eat vegetables by the mother.

If both translations seem possible, check who is in control. The tone and the subject of the sentence often tell you which grammar point is natural.

Common mistakes with させる

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using it with the wrong verb form, such as attaching させる directly to the dictionary form of a Group 1 verb instead of the a-stem
• Confusing it with させられる because the English translation can look similar
• Translating it too literally instead of reading the whole sentence context to see if the meaning is “make” or “let”

A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.

Is させる on the JLPT?

Yes. させる is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.

Practice questions for させる

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Write one sentence using the basic pattern.
• Change the sentence into polite or casual style if possible.
• Compare it with the related pattern from the comparison section.

Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.

Learning path for させる

To learn させる efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with the passive causative, and finally practice in context.

1. First, make sure you can form the causative with させる for all three verb groups without looking at the chart.
2. Next, compare it with させられる. Choosing between them helps you understand social direction: are you the one causing the action, or the one receiving the pressure?
3. Finally, write one sentence with させる in its most literal meaning, one that changes the subject or time expression, and one that contrasts it with one of the related patterns below.

Related grammar to review next

• させられる — reviews how social roles, voice, and politeness change the verb.
• させてください — reviews how social roles, voice, and politeness change the verb.
• 受身形 — reviews how social roles, voice, and politeness change the verb.
• お～になる — reviews how social roles, voice, and politeness change the verb.

Learn させる with Hane

If you want to review させる together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N4 grammar lessons