～れる・～られる (honorific)
Show respect with a verb ending
You'll be able to recognize the respectful use of the passive-shaped verb form from context.
先生は黒板に字を書かれます。
sensei wa kokuban ni ji o kakaremasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
The teacher writes characters on the blackboard.
Recognize respect expressed with passive-shaped forms
～れる and ～られる can respectfully describe someone’s action. The form matches the passive, but context shows that the subject is performing the action and is being respected.
先生はこの本を読まれます。
sensei wa kono hon o yomaremasu.
The teacher reads this book.
Form and use ～れる・～られる (honorific)
する→される and 来る→来られる. Actor and object roles distinguish honorific from passive; ability context may distinguish potential. Do not combine this mechanically with another honorific such as お読みになる.
先生はこの本を読まれます。
sensei wa kono hon o yomaremasu.
The teacher reads this book.
先生は朝ご飯を食べられました。
sensei wa asagohan o taberaremashita.
The teacher ate breakfast.
何時に出発されますか。
nanji ni shuppatsu saremasu ka.
What time will you depart?
Respectful action or passive event
The same ～られる ending can respect the person doing an action or describe the person receiving it. Track は, を, and に to find the roles.
Honorific ～られる
先生は学生を褒められました。
sensei wa gakusei o homeraremashita.
The teacher praised the student.
先生 performs the praise; the ending shows respect for the teacher.
Passive ～られる
学生は先生に褒められました。
gakusei wa sensei ni homeraremashita.
The student was praised by the teacher.
学生 receives the praise; 先生に names the person who gave it.
先生は毎朝公園を散歩されます。
sensei wa maiasa kouen o sanpo saremasu.
The professor takes a walk in the park every morning.
社長は明日大阪へ行かれます。
shachou wa ashita oosaka e ikaremasu.
The company president is going to Osaka tomorrow.
部長はもう帰られました。
buchou wa mou kaeraremashita.
The manager has already gone home.
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