How should I understand the use of particle に in the context of 受身形 and 自動詞 in these sentences?


  * 夕焼けに染まる 
  * 夕焼けに染められる

I got both examples from
[here](http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g297897-i85904433-Negombo_Western_Province.html)
and [here](http://umenokia.exblog.jp/19924401/) respectively. I understand
what these sentences mean, but I'm a little confused as to how sentence
particle ’に’ works in these sentences. If both of the 自動詞 and 受身形 make use of
particle に, does that mean 自動詞 and 受身形 are exactly the same? If so how could
we differentiate the use of 自動詞 or 受身形, or to be clear, why would there be two
different forms? Shouldn't there at least be like a difference in nuance?

Is there a difference in nuance for both these sentences? Is it that one is
more commonly used than the other? Any difference in meaning for both of them?

Also, how would you understand the use of 'に' here? If we were to translate
them literally, do they both mean "by" in English? Or is there something else
I don't know about?

Sorry if it sounds like a dumb question, but this has been troubling me for a
long time.




First, a small list of grammar terms needed to read both OP's question and my
reply.

[自動詞]{じどうし} = intransitive verb

[他動詞]{たどうし} = transitive verb

[能動形]{のうどうけい} = active voice form

[受身形]{うけみけい} = passive voice form

Now, the phrases in question:

> 1) [夕焼]{ゆうや}けに[染]{そ}まる
>
> 2) 夕焼けに染められる

OP says "自動詞 and 受身形" a few times, so it would not be a typo. The truth is ,
however, **neither** of the two phrases in question is a combination of 自動詞
and 受身形.

染まる is a 自動詞. = "to turn color"

染める is a 他動詞. = "to dye something (a particular color)"

「夕焼けに染まる」 is a combination of a 自動詞 and 能動形. Something turns color against or
because of another thing.

↓↓

> "Something turns color with the evening glow." (It is that something that is
> doing the action.)

「夕焼けに染められる」 is a combination of 他動詞 and 受身形. Something is **made** turn color
**by** another thing.

↓↓

> "Something gets bathed by the evening glow." (It is the evening glow that is
> doing the action.)

We have two different に's here.

