れる

also: られる

Freq.FrequencyTop 100

れる · ichidan verb

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	れる	れない
Polite	れます	れません
Past polite	れました	れませんでした
Past	れた	れなかった
Te-form	れて	れないで
Desire	れたい	れたくない
Potential	れられるalso れれる	れられないalso れれない
Passive	れられる	れられない
Causative	れさせる	れさせない
Causative passive	れさせられる	れさせられない
Volitional	れよう
Polite volitional	れましょう
Imperative	れろ	れるな
Conditional	れれば	れなければ
Tara conditional	れたら	れなかったら

Meanings

auxiliary verb, ichidan verb

passive voice; suffering passive

Marks the subject as receiving the action, often with a nuance of being adversely affected (suffering passive). Attaches to the -nai stem of godan verbs (～れる) and ichidan/kuru verbs (～られる). For suru verbs, される is used.

See also: 迷惑の受け身 (めいわくのうけみ)

先せん生せいに褒ほめられた。
I was praised by the teacher.
雨あめに降ふられて、風邪かぜを引ひいた。
I got rained on and caught a cold.

auxiliary verb, ichidan verb

potential form

Expresses ability or possibility. In modern Japanese, godan verbs use the potential form (e.g., 書ける) rather than ～れる; ～れる for potential is archaic or dialectal for godan verbs. Ichidan verbs and kuru use ～られる. No imperative form.

See also: 可能動詞 (かのうどうし)

この魚さかなは生なまで食たべられる。
This fish can be eaten raw.
彼かれは英えい語ごが話はなせます。
He can speak English. (Note: godan verb 話す uses potential form 話せる, not 話される)

auxiliary verb, ichidan verb

spontaneous occurrence

Indicates that something happens naturally or without the subject's volition, often used with verbs of thinking or feeling. No imperative form.

故ふる郷さとのことが思おもい出だされる。
I am reminded of my hometown (it comes to mind spontaneously).

auxiliary verb, ichidan verb

honorific (sonkeigo)

honorific or respectful (sonkeigo)

Used to show respect for the subject of the action. Common in formal speech. No imperative form.

社しゃ長ちょうが会かい議ぎに出しゅっ席せきされます。
The company president will attend the meeting. (honorific)

See all 83,546 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉に〈動どう詞し〉（ら）れるto have something done to one by someone (often to one's detriment)
弟おとうとにケーキを食たべられた。
My cake got eaten by my little brother (to my annoyance).
〈物もの〉が〈動どう詞し〉られるsomething can be done (potential)
この魚さかなは生なまで食たべられる。
This fish can be eaten raw.
〈事こと〉が〈動どう詞し〉と思おもわれるsomething naturally seems to be the case (spontaneous)
彼かれは正しょう直じきな人ひとだと思おもわれる。
He is generally thought to be an honest person.
〈人ひと〉が〈動どう詞し〉れるa respected person does something (honorific)
社しゃ長ちょうがもう帰かえられました。
The president has already gone home (respectful).

Related words

ことができる
られる is a potential verb suffix attached directly to the verb stem, while ことができる is a more formal, explicit construction attached to the dictionary form and often preferred in writing or longer sentences.

Don't confuse with

させる
させる marks causative meaning ('make/let someone do'), while れる marks passive, potential, spontaneous, or honorific meaning, and learners often mix up the two because both attach to the verb stem in a similar way.
せる
せる is the causative auxiliary for godan verbs ('make/let someone do'), whereas れる attaches to godan verbs to mark passive, potential, spontaneous, or honorific meaning, so learners can confuse which one to attach.

Written forms

れるUsage77%
Basic form used with godan verbs and the irregular verb する (as される).
られるUsage23%
Basic form used with ichidan verbs and the irregular verb 来る (as こられる). Also used with する in the form せられる (rare).
ラレルUsage0%

Etymology

Derived from classical auxiliary verbs る and らる, which expressed passive, potential, spontaneous, and honorific meanings. The modern forms れる and られる developed through regular sound changes.