What it means
させる is the causative form of a verb. It shows that the subject makes or allows another person to do an action. The meaning depends on the situation: a strong authority may make someone do something, while a parent, teacher, or other person may simply let someone do it. The causative form has a plain ending such as させる and a polite ending such as させます.
Usage note
The person who is made or allowed to act is commonly marked with に, while a direct object of the original verb usually keeps を. With some intransitive verbs, を can mark the person who is made to act. Do not confuse させる with a passive form: させる describes making or allowing an action, while a passive form describes receiving an action.
How to use it
母は子どもに野菜を食べさせます。
The mother makes her child eat vegetables.
先生は学生に漢字を書かせます。
The teacher makes the students write kanji.
母は子どもに野菜を食べさせる。
The mother makes her child eat vegetables.
先生は学生に漢字を書かせる。
The teacher makes the students write kanji.
Example sentences
先生は生徒たちに教室の窓を掃除させました。
The teacher made the students clean the classroom windows.
店長は新人に閉店後の店内を確認させました。
The store manager made the new employee check the inside of the store after closing.
父は弟に毎朝犬のえさをやらせます。
My father makes my younger brother feed the dog every morning.