In Japanese, as in English, a transitive verb is a verb that takes a direct object, while an intransitive verb does not. This means transitive verbs describe actions that you do to something, while intransitive verbs are just things that you do.
| Intransitive verbs | Transitive verbs |
|---|---|
I slept. John is crying. We won’t leave. | I caught a fish. John is bringing a casserole. We won’t say anything. |
In Japanese, many verbs come in transitivity pairs, meaning that they have a transitive version and an intransitive version that are very similar, but not identical. For example:
| Intransitive version | Transitive version |
|---|---|
開く Transcription: aku Translation: (something) opens | 開ける Transcription: akeru Translation: (something) opens (something) |
壊れる Transcription: kowareru Translation: (something) breaks | 壊す Transcription: kowasu Translation: (something) breaks (something) |
In this post, we’ll go over how to use transitive vs. intransitive verbs in Japanese sentences, then we’ll talk a bit about the transitive verbs themselves and how you can tell whether a verb is transitive or intransitive. Finally, we’ll talk a bit about how to choose between using the transitive or intransitive versions of verbs that come in pairs. Ready to have a look? Let’s dive in!
How to use transitive vs. intransitive verbs in a sentence?
In Japanese, a transitive verb is always used with a direct object, while an intransitive verb does not take a direct object. Compare the two sentences below.
Both transitive verbs and intransitive verbs will have a subject, but only transitive verbs will take a direct object.
When to use が [ga] vs. を [o]?
You may have noticed, in the examples above, that the subject and object of the sentence are marked by different particles:
が transcribed ga follows the subject of the sentence.
を transcribed o follows the direct object of the sentence.
Can you see how this works in the two sentences below?
Even though “the light in the kitchen” undergoes a change-of-state in each sentence, in one sentence it is the subject while in the other it’s the object. This is why it’s marked with different particles depending on whether the verb is transitive or intransitive.
Because the subject and object in Japanese are marked by different particles, the word order is quite a bit more flexible than in English. You can put the object first or the subject — regardless of what order you use が transcribed ga and を transcribed o will make sure the meaning remains clear!
What are transitive and intransitive verbs in Japanese?
In Japanese, transitive verbs are those verbs that are used with a direct object while intransitive verbs are those that are not. In this section we’ll look more closely at what that means for the verbs themselves.
In Japanese, as in English, some verbs are always transitive, some verbs are always intransitive, and a few can be both, depending on the context. Here are some examples of each:
| Transitivity | With a direct object | Without a direct object |
|---|---|---|
| Always transitive | ✅ 私は本を読むのが好きです。 Transcription: Watashi wa hon o yomu no ga suki desu. Translation: I like to read books. | ❌ 私は読むのが好きです。 Transcription: Watashi wa yomu no ga suki desu. Translation: I like to read. |
| Always intransitive | ❌ 父が台所の電気をついた。 Transcription: Chichi ga daidokoro no denki o tsuita. Translation: The light in the kitchen turned on. | ✅ 台所の電気がついた。 Transcription: Daidokoro no denki ga tsuita. Translation: The light in the kitchen turned on. |
| Both | ✅ 妹が扉を開いた。 Transcription: Imōto ga tobira o hiraita. Translation: My little sister opened the door. | ✅ 花が開いた。 Transcription: Hana ga hiraita. Translation: A flower opened. |
Check out this longer list of transitive and intransitive verbs belonging to each of the categories above!
What are transitivity pairs in Japanese?
In Japanese, transitive verbs often have a “sister verb,” with a very similar meaning, pronunciation, and spelling that is intransitive. These pairs of verbs are called transitivity pairs. Here are some common examples.
| Intransitive | Transitive |
|---|---|
開く Transcription: aku Translation: to open | 開ける Transcription: akeru Translation: to open (something) |
閉まる Transcription: shimaru Translation: to close | 閉める Transcription: shimeru Translation: to close (something) |
つく Transcription: tsuku Translation: to turn on | つける Transcription: tsukeru Translation: to turn on (something) |
消える Transcription: kieru Translation: to turn off | 消す Transcription: kesu Translation: to turn off (something) |
出る Transcription: deru Translation: to go out | 出す Transcription: dasu Translation: to take (something) out |
入る Transcription: hairu Translation: to go in | 入れる Transcription: ireru Translation: to put (something) in |
壊れる Transcription: kowareru Translation: to break | 壊す Transcription: kowasu Translation: to break (something) |
始まる Transcription: hajimaru Translation: to start | 始める Transcription: hajimeru Translation: to start (something) |
冷える Transcription: hieru Translation: to get cold | 冷やす Transcription: hiyasu Translation: to chill (something) |
起きる Transcription: okiru Translation: to wake up | 起こす Transcription: okosu Translation: to wake (someone) up |
Want to see more? Check out this list of 100 Japanese transitivity pairs!
As you might have noticed in the list above, the members of a transitivity pair usually use the same kanji and reading.
In some pairs though, the kanji are the same, but they’re read a little differently.
Transitive vs. intransitive endings
In Japanese, there are certain endings you can use to “spot” a transitive or intransitive verb. Though not all verbs will have one of these endings, it’s still helpful to be able to recognize them, since they can help you remember whether a verb is transitive or intransitive.
Some of these endings also come with a “partner.” These are combinations that you’re likely to see in transitivity pairs. Let’s have a look!
‘-aru’ and ‘-eru’
While there are exceptions, a verb that ends in -aru is usually intransitive.
変わるTranscription: kawaruTranslation: to change閉まるTranscription: shimaruTranslation: to closeIf an intransitive verb ending in -aru is part of a transitivity pair, there’s about a 60% chance that the transitive “sister word” will end in -eru. For example:
変わる → 変えるTranscription: kawaru → kaeruTranslation: to change → to change (something)閉まる → 閉めるTranscription: shimaru → shimeruTranslation: to close → to close (something)However this is not a hard-and-fast rule, and there are many exceptions.
刺さる → 刺すTranscription: sasaru → sasu ( ❌saseru)Translation: to sting (feeling) → to sting (something)なくなる → なくすTranscription: nakunaru → nakusu ( ❌nakuneru)Translation: to be lost → to lose (something)‘-reru’ and ‘-su’
Most verbs that end in -reru are also intransitive.
生まれるTranscription: umareruTranslation: to be born汚れるTranscription: yogoreruTranslation: to get dirtyIf a verb ending in -reru is part of a transitivity pair, its transitive partner will usually end in -su.
壊れる → 壊すTranscription: kowareru → kowasuTranslation: to break → to break (something)汚れる → 汚すTranscription: yogoreru → yogosuTranslation: to get dirty → to dirty (something)However, just like we saw with -aru/-eru, you can’t rely on this rule 100% of the time!
生まれる → 生むTranscription: umareru → umu ( ❌umasu)Translation: to be born → to give birth揺れる → 揺らすTranscription: yureru → yurasu ( ❌yusu)Translation: to swing → to swing (something)The transitive ending ‘-su’
The vast majority of verbs that end in -su are transitive.
出すTranscription: dasuTranslation: to take (something) out起こすTranscription: okosuTranslation: to wake (someone) upHowever, just knowing that a verb ends in -su really doesn’t help you predict the form of these verbs’ intransitive partners. The intransitive partners of -su verbs can take all sorts of different endings. For example:
出す → 出るTranscription: dasu→ deruTranslation: to take (something) out → to go out戻す → 戻るTranscription: modosu → modoruTranslation: to return (something) → to come back起こす→ 起きるTranscription: okosu → okiruTranslation: to wake (someone) up → to wake up消す → 消えるTranscription: kesu → kieruTranslation: to delete (something) → to vanish
When to use a transitive vs. intransitive verb in Japanese?
In Japanese, you’ll typically use transitive verbs when the “doer” is the focus, and use intransitive verbs when the change-of-state is the focus. Let’s look at some examples of contexts where you might choose either the transitive or the intransitive.
Transitive: Focus on the “doer”
You are throwing a party later today, and the drinks are out on the counter. When you want to put them in the fridge, you would say,
✅ 飲み物を冷やすよ。Transcription: Nomimono o hiyasu yo.Translation: I’ll chill the drinks.❌ 飲み物が冷えるよ。Transcription: Nomimono ga hieru yo.Translation: The drinks will be chilled.You are talking about your action, and it requires a doer. You’ll naturally choose the transitive verb.
Intransitive: A natural phenomenon
When you are talking about a natural phenomenon or something that happens automatically, you would use the intransitive.
✅ 木からりんごが落ちた。Transcription: Ki kara ringo ga ochita.Translation: An apple fell from the tree.❌ 木からりんごを落とした。Transcription: Ki kara ringo o otoshita.Translation: (Someone) dropped an apple from the tree.In this case, you must use the intransitive version, because there really isn’t a doer.
Intransitive: “Doer” is unimportant
You and your friend are rushing to get into a room. When the door mysteriously opens up in front of you right before you get to it you’ll probably describe its change-of-state using an intransitive verb:
✅ あ、開いた。Transcription: A, aita.Translation: Oh, it opened.❌ あ、開けた。Transcription: A, aketa.Translation: Oh, (someone) opened it.The door might have opened automatically, it might have blown open, or maybe there was even a person behind to open it for you. You’re not sure, and the important information is the fact it opened.
Intransitive: Avoiding naming the “doer”
A little boy has broken his toy by mistake. He may have been playing rough with the toy, but it really was an accident, and the main message he wants to convey is that his toy is now broken. He will generally use an intransitive verb:
✅ おもちゃが壊れた。Transcription: Omocha ga kowareta.Translation: The toy broke.❌ 僕がおもちゃを壊した。Transcription: Boku ga omocha o kowashita.Translation: I broke the toy.Using a transitive verb is allowed, but it would make it sound like the action was intentional. Using an intransitive verb makes it sound more like what it was: an accident.
To sum up
In this post, we discussed the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs in Japanese, and how to build sentences around each type of verb. Here are the important takeaways:
Transitive verbs take a subject and an object → が transcribed ga marks the subject (“doer”) and を transcribed o markes the object (“undergoer”).
Intransitive verbs take only a subject → が transcribed ga marks the subject, regardless of whether it is a “doer” or “undergoer."
Japanese verbs often come in transitivity pairs: two versions of the same verb, one transitive the other intransitive. It’s important to use the right version of the verb for the context!
Certain endings (-aru, -reru) are associated with intransitive verbs, while others (-su) are associated with transitive ones, but there are no hard-and-fast rules.
Ready to practice? Check out our transitive vs. intransitive verbs activities! Or, if you want to review some vocabulary check out our list of 100 Japanese transitivity pairs, or of common Japanese transitive and intransitive verbs. Happy learning!
:quality(80))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))