[Verb] Passive form 〜られる: Meaning and Example Sentences

A conjugation of Japanese verbs, which is used to indicate that the subject of the sentence is receiving the action rather than performing it.
To form the passive form of a verb, follow the following three rules depending on the verb group:
- Group 1: Replace the ending u-vowel with the a-vowel and add れる.
- Group 2: Replace the ending る with られる.
- Group 3: Follow the unique rule.
The passive form is often used in the following pattern:
[Receiver] は [Giver] に [Object] を V(passive)。
- V(passive): An action described by the passive-form verb
- Receiver: A person (or thing) who receives the action
- Giver: A person (or thing) who does the action
- Object: An object that is affected by the action (if exist)
The particle に, which marks the giver, is sometimes replaced with the particle から when the sentence has two に particles, or with によって in a formal context.

be done by someone

私(わたし)は、先生(せんせい)に褒(ほ)められた。

I was praised by my teacher.
私(わたし)は、母(はは)に叱(しか)られました。

I was scolded by my mother.
警官(けいかん)にビザについて、聞(き)かれた。

I was asked about my visa by the policeman.
妹(いもうと)は、父(ちち)に怒(おこ)られた。

My younger sister was scolded by our father.
兄(あに)に、恋人(こいびと)の写真(しゃしん)を見(み)られました。

My older brother saw a picture of my girlfriend.
まだです。店員(てんいん)さんに、パスポートの色(いろ)や形(かたち)を聞(き)かれました。

Not yet. The clerk asked me what color and shape my passport was.

Passive form 〜られる