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What's the difference when we say 幸せにさせる compared to 幸せにする?

I'm now confused between using させる and にする.

Can anyone please provide an in-depth explanation?

2 Answers 2

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…を幸せにする means “to make … happy.” させる is the causative form of する. Therefore:

AがBを幸せにする: A makes B happy.
XがAにBを幸せにさせる: X makes A make B happy.

However, some people may confuse these two and say 幸せにさせる when they mean 幸せにする.

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The correct one is 幸せにする, because する is usually the causative form of なる/である.

But it seems that when the object is a person, させる is often used instead of する as a light verb.

うれしくさせたい
つらい思いをさせないで
幸せな気持ちにさせる

する, なる, である, etc. are used in the active sense.

好きにしろ
つらい思いをする
幸せな気持ちになりたい

So it is understandable that some people may say 幸せにさせる unconsciously.

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