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N4 Lesson 48 · Midnight Encounter / Season 2 · みんなの日本語 第 48 課 · 厚版

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Reading:

Episode 48: By His Command

In this world, power is the right to move others. The chief did not act — he made others act.

部長ぶちょうbuchouは マイクに 報告ほうこくhoukokuさせました。

Mike, in turn, kept his comrades waiting in the cold — orders were orders.

マイクは 仲間なかまnakamaを 待まmaたせました。

He sent a junior agent ahead, alone, into the dark corridor.

部下ぶかbukaを 先さきsakiに 行いiかせました。

And the wounded one, he let go home — even a spy keeps a measure of mercy.

傷きずkizuついた 者ものmonoを 帰かえkaeらせました。

But for the most dangerous task, Mike stepped forward himself. “Let me go,” he said.

私わたしwatashiに 行いiかせてください。

Key Sentences

1. 〜に … を させます (make/order someone to do)

部長ぶちょうbuchouは マイクに 報告ほうこくhoukokuさせました。

  • The chief made Mike report.
  • 部长让迈克做了报告。 / 部長讓麥克做了報告。
  • Trưởng phòng đã bắt Mike báo cáo.

2. 〜を + 自動詞-causative (make someone do)

マイクは 仲間なかまnakamaを 待まmaたせました。

  • Mike made his comrades wait.
  • 迈克让同伴等待。 / 麥克讓同伴等待。
  • Mike đã bắt đồng đội chờ đợi.

3. 〜を 行かせます (send / let go — intransitive)

部下ぶかbukaを 先さきsakiに 行いiかせました。

  • He sent his subordinate ahead.
  • 他让部下先走。 / 他讓部下先走。
  • Anh ấy cho cấp dưới đi trước.

4. 〜を 帰らせます (let someone go — permission)

傷きずkizuついた 者ものmonoを 帰かえkaeらせました。

  • He let the wounded one go home.
  • 他让受伤的人回去了。 / 他讓受傷的人回去了。
  • Anh ấy cho người bị thương về.

5. V-causative-てください (please let me do)

私わたしwatashiに 行いiかせてください。

  • Please let me go.
  • 请让我去。 / 請讓我去。
  • Xin hãy để tôi đi.

Vocabulary

日本語English简体繁體Tiếng Việt
〜せる / させるcausative — make / let someone do使役（让/叫）使役（讓/叫）sai khiến (bắt/cho)
V-caus-てくださいplease let me ~请让我…請讓我…xin cho tôi …
命令めいれいmeireiしますto order, command命令命令ra lệnh
報告ほうこくhoukokuしますto report报告報告báo cáo
部下ぶかbukasubordinate部下部下cấp dưới
権利けんりkenriright, authority权利權利quyền
情なさnasaけmercy, compassion情，怜悯情，憐憫lòng thương
傷きずkizuつきますto be wounded受伤受傷bị thương

Conjugation Reference

GroupPlainCausative (せる/させる)Rule
I (う-verbs)行く行かせるfinal う-row → あ-row + せる
待つ待たせる
飲む飲ませる
II (る-verbs)食べる食べさせるdrop る → + させる
見る見させる
III (irregular)するさせるmemorize
来る来させる (こさせる)memorize

Grammar Patterns

Causative form 〜せる / させる

Group I: change final う-row to あ-row + せる (書く→書かせる). Group II: drop る + させる (食べさせる). Group III: する→させる, 来る→来させる (こさせる). The result conjugates like a Group II verb.

Particles: 〜を vs 〜に

Intransitive verb → the person takes を: 子供を 行かせる. Transitive verb (already has を for the object) → the person takes に: 子供に 薬を 飲ませる.

Two meanings: make (強制) and let (許可)

Same form, read by context. 強制 = make someone (against will): 部下を 残業させる. 許可 = let / allow: 子供を 遊ばせる. Tone and situation decide which.

V-causative-て ください (please let me)

Use the て-form of the causative to ask permission politely: 私に 行かせて ください (please let me go), 説明させて ください (let me explain). A very useful set phrase at work.

Grammar Picture

Causative — A moves B 部長 → 行かせる → 部下 moves 自動詞 → 部下を · 他動詞 → 部下に …を
Why learners stumble here — and how to not

Two things pile up at once: a new conjugation AND a particle choice (を vs に). Practice them separately first: drill the form until automatic, then add particles. Don’t try to do both in your head at the same time.

行かせる vs 行かせられる (a peek ahead)

This lesson is causative (make/let). Later you’ll meet the causative-passive 行かせられる (be made to go — from the doer’s unwilling point of view). For now, just notice they’re different lenses on the same event.

Emotion causatives: 泣かせる・笑わせる

Causatives also describe causing a feeling: 子供を 泣かせた (made the child cry), みんなを 笑わせた (made everyone laugh). The person who feels takes を.

Roleplay Practice

部長ぶちょうbuchou: 危険きけんkikenな任務にんむninmuだ。誰だれdareを 行いiかせようか。
(It’s a dangerous mission. Whom shall I send?)

マイク: 私わたしwatashiに 行いiかせてください。部下ぶかbukaは 帰かえkaeらせてください。
(Please let me go. Please let the subordinate go home.)

部長ぶちょうbuchou: わかった。だが、仲間なかまnakamaを 待まmaたせるな。
(Understood. But don’t keep your comrades waiting.)

How do you say this in Japanese?

How to Use This Lesson

For Self-Study (55-60 minutes)

  1. Drill the form first (12 min) — use the conjugation table; say each causative aloud until automatic. Form before particles.
  2. Add particles (10 min) — を for intransitive, に for transitive.
  3. Practice Key Sentences (10 min).
  4. Learn Vocabulary (8 min).
  5. Read Mini Story (5 min) — By His Command.
  6. Roleplay (10 min) — ask permission with 〜させてください.
Check Yourself (click to expand)
Q1. Causative of 「行く」:
  • A. 行かせる
  • B. 行けせる
  • C. 行きさせる
Show answer

✓ A. 行かせる (う→あ + せる).

Q2. Causative of 「食べる」:
  • A. 食べさせる
  • B. 食べらせる
  • C. 食べせる
Show answer

✓ A. 食べさせる (Group II: drop る + させる).

Q3. 「子供 ___ 公園で 遊ばせる」 (intransitive 遊ぶ):
  • A. を
  • B. に
  • C. へ
Show answer

✓ A. を (intransitive verb → person takes を).

Q4. 「学生 ___ 本を 読ませる」 (transitive 読む):
  • A. に
  • B. を
  • C. が
Show answer

✓ A. に (transitive verb already uses を for the object → person takes に).

Q5. Politely ask to be allowed to do something.

Try 「〜させて ください」.

Show answer

Sample: 私に 説明させて ください。

For Teachers (click to expand)

For Teachers (60+ minutes — a stumbling-point lesson)

  • Form first, in isolation (15 min): chorus the causative of 30 verbs by group before any sentence. Don’t add particles yet.
  • Particle layer (15 min): only now introduce を (intransitive) vs に (transitive). Sort verbs into the two buckets.
  • Make vs let (10 min): same form, two readings — use scenario cards to decide 強制 or 許可.
  • させてください (10 min): workplace permission roleplay.
  • Emotion causatives (10 min): 泣かせる・笑わせる・困らせる.

Note: The #1 error is conflating form and particle. Separate them deliberately. This sets up L49-50 keigo and the later causative-passive.

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