Causative Relationships
Understanding the relationship between transitive verbs, intransitive verbs, and causative forms helps you express causation correctly in Japanese. Sometimes a transitive verb itself expresses causation, making a causative form unnecessary.
Three ways to express causation:
1. Transitive verb (direct causation)
2. Intransitive + causative (make it happen)
3. Transitive + causative (make someone do)
Choose based on meaning needed
Transitive as Causative
Already expresses causation
開ける "open (something)"
Already means "make it open"
ドアを開ける
"Open the door" = "Make door open"
No need for causative
Transitive is sufficient
Direct causation built in
Common transitive verbs
消す "turn off" → make go out
つける "turn on" → make turn on
始める "start" → make begin
終える "finish" → make end
止める "stop" → make stop
These already causative in meaning
Using causative would be redundant
Transitive = direct control
When to Use Causative
With intransitive verbs
Intransitive doesn't have agent control:
行く "go" (intransitive)
行かせる "make/let go" (causative needed)
笑う "laugh" (intransitive)
笑わせる "make laugh" (causative needed)
Can't directly control
Need causative form
Indirect causation
Making someone do transitive action
Transitive verb + causative:
Make someone perform action
食べる "eat"
食べさせる "make/let (someone) eat"
読む "read"
読ませる "make/let (someone) read"
Causative = making agent do it
Redundancy to Avoid
Don't double up
❌ Wrong: ドアを開けさせる
(When YOU are opening it)
✓ Correct: ドアを開ける
"Open the door"
❌ Wrong: 電気を消させる
✓ Correct: 電気を消す
"Turn off light"
Transitive already implies causation
Causative redundant for direct action
Three-Level System
Complete relationship
1. Intransitive (happens):
開く "opens"
ドアが開く "door opens"
2. Transitive (direct cause):
開ける "open (it)"
ドアを開ける "(I) open door"
3. Causative (indirect cause):
開けさせる "make (someone) open"
子供にドアを開けさせる "make child open door"
Each level adds agency layer
Different control degrees
Causative with Intransitive
Expressing indirect causation
行く → 行かせる
"go" → "make go"
子供を学校に行かせる
"Make child go to school"
泣く → 泣かせる
"cry" → "make cry"
彼女を泣かせた
"Made her cry"
Intransitive needs causative
To express causing action
Causative with Transitive
Making someone perform action
食べる → 食べさせる
"eat" → "make/let eat"
子供に野菜を食べさせる
"Make child eat vegetables"
読む → 読ませる
"read" → "make/let read"
生徒に本を読ませる
"Make students read book"
Focus on making person do action
Not on making thing undergo action
Particle Patterns
を vs に with causatives
Intransitive verb causative:
子供を行かせる "make child go"
を marks person caused to act
Transitive verb causative:
子供に本を読ませる "make child read book"
に marks person caused
を marks direct object
Pattern changes with transitivity
Important distinction
Natural Alternatives
Often simpler options exist
Instead of causative:
開けさせる → 開けてもらう
"make open" → "have (them) open"
読ませる → 読んでもらう
"make read" → "have (them) read"
てもらう more natural
Less forceful
More polite implication
Transitive = Direct Control
Physical causation
When you physically cause:
ボタンを押す "press button"
Makes button go down
Direct physical causation
スイッチを入れる "turn on switch"
Makes device activate
Direct control
Use transitive, not causative
Direct action suffices
Causative = Indirect Control
Through agency of others
When causing through someone else:
子供にボタンを押させる
"Make child press button"
生徒に本を読ませる
"Make students read"
Through another person
Indirect causation
Causative needed
State Changes
Transitive causes change
色を変える "change color"
Direct causation of change
気持ちを変える "change feelings"
Direct causation of change
温度を上げる "raise temperature"
Direct causation of change
Transitive handles state changes
No causative needed
Direct control of change
Permissive Causative
"Let" meaning
行かせる can mean "let go"
子供を遊びに行かせる
"Let child go play"
Permission sense
Not forceful
Context determines
Same form, different meaning
Causative covers both
Common Patterns
With intransitive verbs
Must use causative:
泣く → 泣かせる "make cry"
笑う → 笑わせる "make laugh"
寝る → 寝させる "make sleep"
起きる → 起きさせる "make wake up"
帰る → 帰らせる "make return"
These need causative form
Can't use transitive alternative
Semantic Difference
Focus changes
ドアを開ける
"Open door"
Focus: door opening
子供にドアを開けさせる
"Make child open door"
Focus: child's action
Different emphasis
Different sentence structure
Different particles
Making vs Letting
Context clarifies
行かせる:
子供を学校に行かせる "make/let child go to school"
行かせない:
子供を外に行かせない "don't let child go outside"
Affirmative = often "make"
Negative = often "don't let"
Context crucial for interpretation
Learning Strategy
Decision tree
Ask yourself:
1. Am I directly doing action to object?
→ Use transitive verb
2. Am I making someone/something do action?
AND is base verb intransitive?
→ Use intransitive + causative
3. Am I making someone perform transitive action?
→ Use transitive + causative
4. Can I use てもらう instead?
→ Consider it for politeness
Practice with this logic
Builds correct usage
Common Mistakes
❌ Unnecessary causative
✗ ドアを開けさせる (when you open it yourself)
✓ Direct transitive
✓ ドアを開ける
❌ Missing causative
✗ 子供を学校に行く
✓ Need causative
✓ 子供を学校に行かせる
❌ Wrong particle
✗ 子供を本を読ませる
✓ Correct particles
✓ 子供に本を読ませる
Understanding verb type helps
Choose appropriate form
Consider agency
Practical Examples
Natural usage
Direct causation (transitive):
窓を開けた "Opened window"
電気をつけた "Turned on light"
授業を始めた "Started class"
Indirect causation (causative):
子供を寝かせた "Put child to sleep"
学生に本を読ませた "Had students read book"
彼を笑わせた "Made him laugh"
Different situations
Different forms needed
Both common in daily speech
Natural Japanese requires distinction