～させる (causative)

• Reading: させる
• Romaji: saseru
• Formation: Group 1: -u → -aseru / Group 2: -ru → -saseru / する → させる / くる → こさせる

Meaning

Expresses causing or allowing someone to do something, or causing something to change its state. It can convey both coercion and permission depending on context.

The causative form させる is used to express making or letting someone do something. For Group 1 verbs, the final -u changes to -aseru; for Group 2 verbs, -ru is replaced with -saseru; する becomes させる and くる becomes こさせる. Whether the meaning is coercive or permissive depends on context and the particles used. The person caused to act is marked with に for transitive verbs and with を for intransitive verbs. In casual speech, shortened causative forms exist such as 行かす instead of 行かせる.

Examples

1. 母は弟に野菜を食べさせた。 Mother made my younger brother eat vegetables.
2. 先生は生徒を立たせた。 The teacher made the students stand up.
3. 子供に好きなことをさせてあげたい。 I want to let the children do what they like.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 医者は患者を一週間休ませた。
• 娘にピアノを習わせています。
• 少し考えさせてください。

Don't Say

• 母は弟を野菜を食べさせた。(With transitive verbs, the person caused to act takes に, not を) → 母は弟に野菜を食べさせた。
• 先生は生徒を立たさせた。(Group 1 verb 立つ — causative is 立たせる, not 立たさせる) → 先生は生徒を立たせた。

Origin & History

The causative auxiliary させる comes from classical Japanese す/さす, which indicated causing or ordering someone to perform an action.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal