[JLPT Grammar Masterclass] 〜とする vs. 〜とされる: Declaring Official Rules vs. Stating General Consensus in Formal Japanese

1. Introduction: Mastering Formal Japanese & The Active/Passive Distinction

For upper-intermediate and advanced Japanese learners (N3–N1), transitioning from casual or everyday spoken Japanese to high-level written Japanese presents a distinct structural challenge. When navigating news reports, academic essays (論文(ろんぶん)), formal announcements, and official policy documents (通知(つうち)), you will frequently encounter the expressions 〜とする and 〜とされる. While both patterns share the fundamental root verb する (to do), their grammatical functions and underlying perspectives are fundamentally different.

At the heart of this distinction is the contrast between active official rule-making (〜とする) and passive societal or scientific consensus (〜とされる / 〜とされている). Active 〜とする is used by authoritative entities to enact regulations, state mandates, or declare official administrative decisions. In contrast, passive 〜とされる strips away personal agency to express what is generally believed, accepted, or acknowledged by society, culture, or the scientific community. Confusing active agency with collective perception is one of the most common obstacles to writing natural formal Japanese and performing well on the JLPT.

Primary Objective: Master the agency shift between active rule-setting (〜とする) and objective collective consensus (〜とされる), enabling you to read, analyze, and write formal Japanese with complete precision.

In the following section, we will dissect the structural mechanics, connection rules, and foundational patterns of these two expressions.

2. Core Meaning, Formation & Two Distinct Usages

Understanding how to attach these patterns across various word classes is essential for error-free construction in academic and formal registers.

2.1 Formation Rules & Structural Mechanics

Both 〜とする and 〜とされる follow standard conjugation rules when attaching to the Plain Form (普通体(ふつうたい)) of verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Pay close attention to how Nouns and な-adjectives attach via だ.

Word Class Connection Rules

• Noun-Modifying Forms:
  • To modify a noun directly using a passive consensus clause, use 「〜とされた ＋ Noun」 (e.g., 自国(じこく)で正(ただ)しいとされた事(こと) — things that were considered correct in one’s own country).
  • To modify a noun using an active rule clause, use 「〜とする ＋ Noun」.

2.2 Pattern 1: Active 「〜とする」 (Official Regulations & Mandates)

Active 〜とする translates to “shall be decided as…”, “is stipulated that…”, or “shall be set as…”. It is utilized by authorities, institutions, academic bodies, or official event organizers to formally establish rules, policies, fees, or administrative terms.

• Primary Function: Establishing mandates, guidelines, and contractual terms.
• Context & Register: Official notifications (通知(つうち)), examination instructions, event guidelines, and legal/regulatory contexts.
• Core Nuance: Strong active agency representing an official decision-maker.

Synthesized Example:

• 「カンニングをした場(ば)合(あい)は、0点(てん)とする。」
  • Cheating shall result in a score of zero. (Official examination regulation)

2.3 Pattern 2: Passive 「〜とされる／〜とされている」 (Societal Consensus & Established Facts)

Passive 〜とされる (and its continuous state form 〜とされている) translates to “is considered to be…”, “is regarded as…”, “is held that…”, or “is believed to be…”. By placing the verb する into its passive form (される), the sentence removes the speaker’s personal opinion and attributes the statement to general public consensus, cultural common sense, or academic theories.

The Subjectivity-to-Objectivity Shift: Converting とする (Active Decision) into とされる (Passive Consensus) eliminates personal subjective ownership. Instead of stating “I think X” or “Organizers decided X”, the sentence frames the statement as an established fact acknowledged by society at large:

[ Individual / Official Agency: 〜とする ] ➔ [ Collective Public Consensus: 〜とされる ]

Synthesized Example:

• 「鳩(はと)は平和(へいわ)の象徴(しょうちょう)とされている。」
  • Doves are regarded as symbols of peace. (General global belief/consensus)

Now that you understand the basic mechanics and meanings of both patterns, let us review the critical exam traps and writing errors you must avoid.

3. Crucial Exam & Academic Rules: Avoid These Common Traps

When taking the JLPT or writing academic papers, learners frequently fall into specific grammatical and stylistic traps involving 〜とされる.

Trap 1: Personal Opinion Contradiction

Because 〜とされる explicitly conveys collective consensus or public opinion without the speaker’s own subjectivity, it cannot be used alongside phrases that indicate personal opinion or subjective viewpoints (e.g., 私(わたし)の意見(いけん)では).

Trap 2: Register Awareness & Structural Mistakes

Both 〜とする and 〜とされる belong strictly to formal written Japanese, news reports, official notices, and academic contexts. They sound overly rigid and unnatural in casual spoken conversation. Furthermore, learners frequently make structural conjugation errors by inserting polite forms or incorrect passive verbs.

• Error 1: Inserting Polite Forms Inside Structure
  • ❌ × 彼(かれ)は優秀(ゆうしゅう)ですとされる。
  • ⭕ ○ 彼(かれ)は優秀(ゆうしゅう)だとされる。 (Must connect to the Plain Form)
• Error 2: Confusing Passive Verb Conjugation
  • ❌ × 彼(かれ)は天才(てんさい)とられる。
  • ⭕ ○ 彼(かれ)は天才(てんさい)とされる。 (Passive of する is される)

To see how these rules function in real-world Japanese, let us examine three practical scenarios across distinct contexts.

4. Practical Scenarios & Authentic Examples

Below are three authentic scenarios illustrating the correct application of 〜とする and 〜とされる.

Scenario 1: Official Rules & Events (〜とする)

Used by event organizers or administrators to establish binding guidelines and clear policy terms.

「参加費(さんかひ)は一人(ひとり)3000円(えん)、服装(ふくそう)は自由(じゆう)とする**。」**

Translation: Participation fee shall be 3,000 yen per person; attire shall be casual/optional.

Why this form? The event organizer is actively setting down official regulations for participants. Using active 〜とする conveys a formal mandate.

Scenario 2: Cultural Customs & Etiquette (〜とされている)

Used to describe widespread cultural norms, societal expectations, or international etiquette without attributing the view to a single person.

「音(おと)を立(た)てて麺(めん)をすするのは、海外(かいがい)ではマナー違反(いはん)とされている**。」**

Translation: Slurping noodles loudly is considered bad manners overseas.

Why this form? This states a broadly accepted cultural norm and general social consensus across foreign countries, making passive 〜とされている the appropriate structure.

Scenario 3: Scientific Theories & Global Findings (〜とされている)

Used in news reporting, research articles, and academic writing to present scientific findings or theories objectively.

「地球(ちきゅう)温暖化(おんだんか)の主(おも)な原因(げんいん)は、二酸化(にさんか)炭素(たんそ)の増加(ぞうか)だとされている**。」**

Translation: The main cause of global warming is considered to be the increase in carbon dioxide.

Why this form? The statement presents a widely acknowledged scientific theory and general academic consensus without injecting subjective personal claims.

Having observed these forms in practical contexts, let us compare them directly against other similar objective expressions in formal Japanese.

5. Nuance Comparison: Objective Expressions in Written Japanese

To achieve advanced fluency, you must understand how 〜とされる and 〜とする differ from closely related expressions tested on the JLPT.

Additional Formal Objective Anchors in Advanced Written Japanese:

• 〜は〜となっている: Indicates an established rule, schedule, or fixed state of affairs that has been set in place (“is set to / has been established as”), e.g., 「朝礼(ちょうれい)は毎朝(まいあさ)10時(じ)開始(かいし)となっている」 (Morning assembly is set to start every morning at 10:00).
• 〜とみられる: Conveys an observed trend, likely inference, or expert analysis frequently seen in news media (“is viewed as / is expected to be”), e.g., 「景気(けいき)は回復(かいふく)傾向(けいこう)にあるとみられる」 (The economy is viewed as being on a recovery trend).

With these subtle stylistic distinctions clarified, test your mastery with the following JLPT-style practice quiz.

6. Quick Practice Quiz (JLPT-Style)

Select the correct option for each question based on the grammar rules covered above.

Question 1 (Testing Active Official Rule-Setting)

本(ほん)試験(しけん)において、遅刻(ちこく)した方(ほう)の受検(じゅけん)は無効(むこう)（　　）。

• A. と思(おも)う
• B. とされている
• C. とする
• D. と言(い)っている

Question 2 (Testing Collective Consensus vs. Personal Opinion)

一般的(いっぱんてき)に、オランダでは大麻(たいま)は合法(ごうほう)（　　）。

• A. としている
• B. とされている
• C. と思(おも)う
• D. ことにする

💡 Answer Key & Detailed Explanations

Question 1: Correct Answer is C (とする)

• Explanation: The sentence establishes an official examination rule (“For this exam, those who arrive late shall be rendered invalid”). Because an official authority is declaring a rule, active 〜とする is required. Option A is too casual/personal, Option B states passive consensus rather than rule declaration, and Option D is grammatically incorrect.

Question 2: Correct Answer is B (とされている)

• Explanation: The sentence opens with 「一般的(いっぱんてき)に」 (Generally) and states an objective national legal consensus (“Marijuana is considered legal in the Netherlands”). Therefore, passive collective consensus 〜とされている is the correct form. Option C expresses personal opinion, Option A uses incorrect active voice, and Option D denotes a personal decision.

With these quiz insights and nuance comparisons firmly in mind, let us summarize the essential rules to ensure long-term retention in your reading and writing.

7. Conclusion & Summary Takeaways

Mastering the distinction between 〜とする and 〜とされる is a major milestone in mastering formal written Japanese. Keep these three core principles in mind whenever reading or writing formal texts:

1. 〜とする = Active Agency & Official Mandates: Use this pattern when an official authority, organization, or rule-maker establishes binding regulations, fees, or policy decisions (“shall be decided as…”).
2. 〜とされる = Objective Consensus & Established Beliefs: Use this pattern to present widely accepted societal norms, cultural etiquette, or scientific theories objectively, removing personal subjectivity (“is considered/regarded as…”).
3. Key Exclusion = No Personal Opinions: Never combine 〜とされる with personal first-person claims (e.g., 私(わたし)の意見(いけん)では). Use personal thought verbs like 〜と思う or 〜と考えている for individual opinions instead.

By applying these rules, you will be able to navigate advanced JLPT reading passages effortlessly and compose polished, highly professional Japanese documents with complete confidence!

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日本語学校の専任講師として7年以上勤務をしていて、経験した留学生の疑問や先生の悩みを解決していきます。

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