～(ら)れる(迷惑の受身)

How to form it

• Subject + は + agent + に + (object を) + passive verb

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Uses the passive to show that the speaker suffered because of what someone or something did, even with intransitive verbs.

In Japanese, even verbs without an object, such as 降る and 泣く, can be made passive to show that the speaker was troubled. A direct English equivalent does not exist.

Examples

1. 雨に降られて、服がぬれた。

   あめにふられて、ふくがぬれた。

   I was caught in the rain and my clothes got wet.

2. 夜、赤ちゃんに泣かれて、眠れなかった。

   よる、あかちゃんになかれて、ねむれなかった。

   The baby cried in the night, and I could not sleep.

3. 友達に、日記を読まれてしまった。

   ともだちに、にっきをよまれてしまった。

   My friend read my diary, to my dismay.

4. 電車で、知らない人に足を踏まれた。

   でんしゃで、しらないひとにあしをふまれた。

   A stranger stepped on my foot on the train.

Compare with

• ～(ら)れる(受身): The ordinary passive does not have to carry a feeling of trouble.

Common mistakes

• Trying to translate it literally. It simply shows that the speaker was affected.