1. Auxiliary verb, Ichidan verb

   indicates passive voice (incl. the "suffering passive")

   ～れる connects to -nai stem of 五段 verbs and to サ変 as さ～れる; ～られる connects to -nai stem of 一段 and カ変 verbs and to サ変 as せ～られるsee 迷惑の受身see めいわくのうけみ

2. indicates the potential form

   no imperative form, not used on 五段 in modern speechsee 可能動詞see かのうどうし

3. indicates spontaneous occurrence

   no imperative form

4. used as an honorific for others' actions

   Honorific or respectful (sonkeigo) languageno imperative form

Also written られる