Intransitive Verb VS. Transitive Verb

 



1. What are intransitive and transitive verbs in Japanese?

In Japanese, verbs are divided into two main types:

・Intransitive verbs (自動詞（じどうし） / jidōshi)

・Transitive verbs (他動詞（たどうし） / tadōshi)

The key difference is whether the verb takes a direct object or not.


2. Intransitive Verbs (自動詞)

An intransitive verb does not take a direct object.

It describes:

・Something that happen

・A change of state

・A natural event

The subject is the thing that changes or moves.

Structure:　Noun + が + Verb

Examples:

  • ドアが 開く。(Doa ga hiraku.) The door opens.

  • 電気が 消えた。(Denki ga kieta) The light went off.

  • 窓が 閉まった。(Mado ga shimatta.) The window closed.

Notice:
There is no object marked by を. The subject (door, light, window) is marked by が because it is the thing that changes.


3. Transitive Verbs (他動詞)

A transitive verb takes a direct object.

It describes:

  • Someone doing something to something

  • An action that affects another thing

Structure:

Subject + が / は + Object + を + Verb

Examples:

  • 私が ドアを 開ける。(Watashi ga doa wo akeru.) I open the door.

  • 彼が 電気を 消した。(Kare ga denki wo keshita.) He turned off the light.

  • 彼女が 窓を 閉めた。(Kanojyo ga mado wo shimeta.) She closed the window.

Here, ドア, 電気, 窓 are objects marked by を.


4. Important Difference in Meaning

Compare:

・ドアが 開いた。(Doa ga hiraita.) →The door opened. (It happened.)

・ドアを 開けた。(Doa wo aketa.)→ (Someone) opened the door. (An action was done.)

Japanese clearly distinguishes between:

  • Something happening naturally (intransitive)

  • Someone causing it to happen (transitive)

5. Common Verb Pairs

Many Japanese verbs come in pairs.

(A) Intransitive verb : -iru / Transitive verb : -osu

起きる(okiru) / 起こす(okosu)  【get up】

過ぎる(sugiru)/過ごす(sugosu)　【spend (time)】

落ちる(ochiru)/落とす(otosu)【fall】

(B) Intransitive verb : -aru / Transitive verb : -eru

あがる(agaru)/あげる(ageru)【rise/raise】

あつまる(atsumaru)/あつめる(atsumeru)【gather】

しずまる(shizumaru)/しずめる(shizumeru)【calm down】

(C) Intransitive verb : -reru / Transitive verb : -su

倒れる(taoreru)/倒す(taosu)　【fall down】

汚れる(yogoreru)/汚す(yogosu)  【pollute】

壊れる(kowareru)/壊す(kowasu)　【break down】


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