Japanese Passive with Modals: Saying 'Must Be Signed' and 'Can Be Seen'
Learn to combine the Japanese passive with permission, obligation, and advice expressions to say things like 'the form must be signed' and 'this can be seen from here'.
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Japanese has a true passive voice, but it does not attach 'can', 'must', or 'should' directly to the verb the way English does. Instead, the passive form is a base, and modal meaning comes from a second element: -te mo ii for permission, -nakereba naranai for obligation, -beki da for advice, and -ru/-rareru koto ga dekiru for ability. This lesson shows you how to build these combinations accurately, using the passive forms of godan verbs (e.g. kakareru), ichidan verbs (e.g. mirareru), and the irregulars suru → sareru and kuru → korareru. You will practise the most useful patterns in real situations such as forms, rules, and announcements.
By the end, you can…
- form the passive of godan, ichidan, and irregular verbs in Japanese.
- attach permission, obligation, and advice expressions to a passive verb.
- distinguish 'must be done' from 'can be done' and 'should be done' in Japanese.
- understand and produce passive sentences with modals in formal written and spoken contexts.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
この書類は部長に署名されなければなりません。
This document must be signed by the department manager.
Kono shorui wa buchō ni shomei sarenakereba narimasen.
Formal obligation with a passive verb; common in business writing and announcements.
この本は図書館で借りられます。
This book can be borrowed at the library.
Kono hon wa toshokan de kariraremasu.
Potential form of the godan verb kariru; polite and neutral. The passive form is the same shape (karirareru), but here the meaning is 'can be borrowed'.
その問題は早く解決されるべきです。
That problem should be solved quickly.
Sono mondai wa hayaku kaiketsu sareru beki desu.
Advice or expectation with -beki da; slightly formal and often written.
ここから富士山が見えます。
Mount Fuji is visible from here.
Koko kara Fujisan ga miemasu.
Mieru is the spontaneous/potential verb for visibility; it is the natural choice for scenery. Mirareru is also possible but often implies 'can be seen (by someone)'.
会議は来週開かれます。
The meeting will be held next week.
Kaigi wa raishū hirakaremasu.
Simple passive without a modal; useful as a base before adding modal endings.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The passive form is made like this: godan verbs change the -u ending to -areru (kaku → kakareru, yomu → yomareru); ichidan verbs add -rareru (miru → mirareru, taberu → taberareru); suru becomes sareru and kuru becomes korareru. Modal meaning is added after the passive: -te mo ii desu (may be done), -nakereba naranai / -nakute wa ikemasen (must be done), -beki desu (should be done), and koto ga dekiru (can be done). For example: この本は読まれています (This book is being read) and この本は読まれなければなりません (This book must be read). Note that for ichidan verbs the passive and the potential have the same form (mirareru, taberareru), so context decides the meaning; colloquially, ichidan verbs often use the shortened potential -reru (mireru, tabereru).
When to use it
Use the passive with modals when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, and the focus is on the action or the thing affected. In notices you often see ～されなければなりません for rules, ～されるべきです for recommendations, and ～されます for simple events. In speech, ～てもいいですか asks permission about an action, as in ここに車を止めてもいいですか (May I park a car here?). Note that the potential use of -rareru (見られる, 借りられる) is very common, and for godan verbs it is the standard potential form; for ichidan verbs the shorter -reru potential (見れる, 食べれる) is common in casual speech, though some speakers consider it non-standard.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
この申込書はいつまでに出さなければなりませんか。
By when must this application form be submitted?Kono mōshikomisho wa itsu made ni dasanakereba narimasen ka.金曜日までに提出されるべきです。
It should be submitted by Friday.Kin'yōbi made ni teishutsu sareru beki desu.コピーはここで取れますか。
Can I make copies here?Kopī wa koko de toremasu ka.いいえ、コピーは受付でしか取れません。
No, you can only make copies at the reception desk.Iie, kopī wa uketsuke de shika toremasen.A little context goes a long way
Passive sentences with obligation are common in Japanese notices, contracts, and workplace email, where the agent is often omitted or marked with ni. In casual conversation, Japanese speakers often prefer active or potential phrasing, so a passive with -beki da can sound stiff or like written language. Choose the passive when the focus is on the rule or the object, and use active forms when you want to name the person responsible.
One thing to watch for
Adding a modal directly to the dictionary form, as in 署名するなければなりません.
Try this instead: The passive stem must come first, then the negative obligation ending: 署名されなければなりません. The negative form of the passive is されない, and its obligation form is されなければなりません.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Change この手紙は出す into 'This letter must be sent.'
Show a sample answer
この手紙は出されなければなりません。
Dasu is a godan verb, so its passive is dasareru; the obligation ending -nakereba narimasen follows the passive stem dasare-. The alternative 出さなくてはなりません is also correct.
2Express 'This song can be heard everywhere.' using a passive form.
Show a sample answer
この歌はどこでも聞かれます。
Kiku becomes kikareru, and -masu gives a polite present. In many contexts 聞こえます is also natural, but it means 'is audible' rather than 'is heard by people'.
3Say 'That rule should be changed.'
Show a sample answer
その規則は変えられるべきです。
Kaeru is ichidan, so the passive is kaerareru, and -beki desu adds advice. A softer alternative is 変えたほうがいいです, which is more conversational.
Build passive sentences first, then add the modal ending: -te mo ii for permission, -nakereba naranai for obligation, -beki da for advice, and koto ga dekiru or the -rareru potential for ability.
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