られる
🃏 Flashcard
られる
rareru
Tap to reveal usage
potential form; ability/inability to do ~
N4
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
rareru
Post ID
50750
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
potential form; ability/inability to do ~
📖 How to use it
This is the potential form of verbs, expressing ability or possibility to do something.
Attaches to
For る-verbs (ichidan), remove the final る and add られる (e.g., 食べる → 食べられる). For う-verbs (godan), change the final う-row sound to the え-row equivalent and add る (e.g., 行く → 行ける; this is the same as the potential form, but note that られる is only used for ichidan and some irregular verbs like くる → こられる). For する → できる, くる → こられる.
The potential form られる turns a verb into an expression of ability or possibility. For example, 食べる (to eat) becomes 食べられる (can eat). With this form, the subject is marked by に (or は) and the object often keeps を, but in potential sentences, が is also commonly used. For instance, 私は納豆が食べられる means 'I can eat natto.' This form is used in both speaking and writing, but in casual conversation, られる is often shortened to れる for ichidan verbs (e.g., 食べれる), but that is considered non-standard; standard Japanese uses 食べられる. Stick with the full form for now.
私は日本語が読めます。
Watashi wa nihongo ga yomemasu.
I can read Japanese.
このアプリは無料で使えます。
Kono apuri wa muryou de tsukaemasu.
This app can be used for free.
一人で来られますか。
Hitori de koraremasu ka.
Can you come alone?
Not passive form られる (e.g., 食べられる = 'is eaten')
Context tells you which. If the subject is the one doing the action and the sentence expresses ability, it's potential. If the subject is affected by the action (e.g., 'I was scolded'), it's passive. Also, potential sentences often use が for the object, while passive uses を for the agent.
Register
Neutral; used in both speaking and writing, but in casual speech, the shorter れる form (e.g., 食べれる) is common, though considered informal.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
られる
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat られる three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using られる. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern られる mean?
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Potential form; ability/inability to do ~
What JLPT level is られる?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use られる in a sentence?
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Attach られる (rareru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is られる formal or casual Japanese?
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られる is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember られる long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.