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〜を余儀なくさせる

o yoginaku saseru

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Meaning

force (someone) to …; compel …

〜を余儀なくさせる is the causative twin of を余儀なくされる. Here the subject is the cause (an event or situation) and it forces someone into X: 大雪が列車の運休を余儀なくさせた (heavy snow forced the trains to be suspended). The person affected, if mentioned, takes に.

Formal written Japanese, news and analysis. It puts the spotlight on the cause: what forced the change. Because the subject is not a person, sentences often look like "X caused Y to be forced".

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • Cause + が + (person + に) + N(action) + を余儀なくさせる
  • Typical causes: 大雪・資金不足・病気・不況・事故

Visual diagram

  1. Step 1大雪で、列車は運休を余儀なくされたthe trains were forced to be suspended by the heavy snow (affected subject)
  2. Step 2大雪が、列車の運休を余儀なくさせたthe heavy snow forced the trains to be suspended (cause as subject)

Natural examples

  1. 大雪が、列車の運休を余儀なくさせた。

    おおゆきが、れっしゃのうんきゅうをよぎなくさせた。

    The heavy snow forced the trains to be suspended.

    Cause (大雪) is the subject; the forced action is 運休.

  2. 資金不足が、計画の変更を余儀なくさせた。

    しきんぶそくが、けいかくのへんこうをよぎなくさせた。

    A shortage of funds compelled a change of plan.

    資金不足 as the cause; the forced action is 変更.

  3. 突然の病が、彼に引退を余儀なくさせた。

    とつぜんのやまいが、かれにいんたいをよぎなくさせた。

    A sudden illness forced him into retirement.

    The person affected takes に: 彼に引退を余儀なくさせた.

  4. 急激な円安が、多くの企業に価格の見直しを余儀なくさせている。

    きゅうげきなえんやすが、おおくのきぎょうにかかくのみなおしをよぎなくさせている。

    The sharp fall of the yen is forcing many companies to revise their prices.

    企業に marks the affected party.

  5. 度重なる故障が、計画の全面的な変更を余儀なくさせた。

    たびかさなるこしょうが、けいかくのぜんめんてきなへんこうをよぎなくさせた。

    Repeated breakdowns forced a complete change of plan.

    The cause is a situation, not a person.

Similar grammar and the difference

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    住民が避難を余儀なくさせた。
    ✓
    住民は避難を余儀なくされた。／地震が住民に避難を余儀なくさせた。
    Why
    With させる the subject must be the cause; a person as subject needs される.
  • ✗
    大雪が列車を運休を余儀なくさせた。
    ✓
    大雪が列車の運休を余儀なくさせた。
    Why
    The forced action is a noun phrase; only one を is possible.
  • ✗
    病気が彼を引退を余儀なくさせた。
    ✓
    病気が彼に引退を余儀なくさせた。
    Why
    The affected person takes に.

Choose される or させる by asking: is the subject the victim or the cause? させる sentences are common in analytical writing that traces effects back to causes. Both forms are formal; neither is used in casual speech.

JLPT N1 tips

On the exam

  • Event + が + (person + に) + action + blank → を余儀なくさせる.
  • If a person or organisation is the subject, the answer is される instead; check the particle after the subject.
  • In 並べ替え, place the cause first, then N + に, then action + を余儀なくさせた.

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜を余儀なくさせる mean?

force (someone) to …; compel …. 〜を余儀なくさせる is the causative twin of を余儀なくされる. Here the subject is the cause (an event or situation) and it forces someone into X: 大雪が列車の運休を余儀なくさせた (heavy snow forced the trains to be suspended). The person affected, if mentioned, takes に.

How do you form 〜を余儀なくさせる?

Cause + が + (person + に) + N(action) + を余儀なくさせる / Typical causes: 大雪・資金不足・病気・不況・事故. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜を余儀なくさせる used?

Formal written Japanese, news and analysis. It puts the spotlight on the cause: what forced the change. Because the subject is not a person, sentences often look like "X caused Y to be forced".

What is the difference between 〜を余儀なくさせる and 〜を余儀なくされる?

The passive twin: the affected party is the subject.

What is the difference between 〜を余儀なくさせる and 〜によって / 〜により?

Marks a cause without making it the grammatical subject (大雪により運休した).

What is a common mistake with 〜を余儀なくさせる?

Wrong: 住民が避難を余儀なくさせた。 Right: 住民は避難を余儀なくされた。／地震が住民に避難を余儀なくさせた。 With させる the subject must be the cause; a person as subject needs される.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

長引く不況が、多くの店に閉店（　　）。