How can you tell if the causative means "let" or "make"?


> 父は弟に英語を習わせた。

This may mean "My father made/let my younger brother learn English". How do I
tell which one it means when using the causative?




Given just the sentence you propose:

> 父は弟に英語を習わせた。

You cannot tell whether this is meant to be permissive ("let") or forceful
("make").

What I've found is that when you see the causative (使役), you should assume
that it is the forceful version unless context says otherwise.

Also, there's a second way of saying it if they want to say "let":

> 父は弟に英語を習わせてくれた。 (or 習わせてあげた。/ 習わせてやった。)

In my experience the more positive versions often end in くれた or くださった
precisely because this is how they make clear that this is letting someone do
what they wanted rather than forcing them to do something.

