受身形 (ukemi kei) – Meaning & Usage

受身形 means passive form. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.

This English meaning is written independently from the source list so it answers the learner question directly: what does 受身形 mean and when should you use it?

What does 受身形 mean?

Use 受身形 when you want to express passive form in a Japanese sentence.

Natural translations include:

passive form
to express “passive form” naturally
the closest natural English meaning in context

How to form 受身形

Passive verb form

Passive verb form
受身形
related form: させられる

When is 受身形 used?

Use 受身形 in situations like:

reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
recognizing natural grammar in conversation or short passages

Tone and register:

usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, humble, honorific, or written
common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday examples

受身形 example sentences

私は先生にほめられました。

I was praised by the teacher.

財布を盗まれました。

My wallet was stolen.

この本は多くの人に読まれています。

This book is read by many people.

弟にケーキを食べられました。

My cake was eaten by my younger brother.

会議は明日開かれます。

The meeting will be held tomorrow.

Nuance of 受身形

The key nuance is passive form in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.

This matters because 受身形 often changes the relationship between actions, people, time, or evidence in the sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.

受身形 vs させられる

Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.

受身形

is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson; focuses on passive form

私は先生にほめられました。

I was praised by the teacher.

させられる

is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms

compare what changes in evidence, timing, direction, or politeness

Common mistakes with 受身形

❌

Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context

✅

Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation

❌

Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form

✅

Identify the subject’s role and confirm the form matches the grammar point

❌

Confusing 受身形 with させられる because the English can sound similar

✅

Check whether the sentence describes passive action or causative force

Is 受身形 on the JLPT?

Yes. 受身形 is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.

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

Practice questions for 受身形

Write one short sentence using the basic structure.

Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.

Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.

Learning path for 受身形

Use 受身形 as part of your JLPT N4 voice, causative, passive, and politeness grammar toolkit. Identify the subject’s role before choosing 受身形: doer, receiver, person made to act, respected person, or humble speaker. Voice and politeness patterns are mostly about social direction, not just verb endings.

Make one short sentence with 受身形, then compare it with いたします.

Add ございます or でございます to see how the nuance changes.

Write one sentence that uses 受身形 in its most literal meaning, one sentence that changes the subject or time expression, and one sentence that contrasts it with one of the related patterns below.

いたします — the humble form of do.
ございます — the polite form of there is.
でございます — the polite form of to be.
させる — make or let someone do.

Browse more lessons here:

Learn 受身形 with Hane

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

Browse more lessons here:

FAQ about 受身形

What does 受身形 (ukemi kei) mean in Japanese?

受身形 (ukemi kei) means “passive form”. It is JLPT N4 grammar. Use 受身形 when you want to express passive form in a Japanese sentence.

How do you form 受身形 (ukemi kei)?

Passive verb form Passive verb form 受身形 related form: させられる

What is an example sentence with 受身形 (ukemi kei)?

私は先生にほめられました。 — I was praised by the teacher.