Japanese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
Transitive and intransitive verb pairs
Verb pairs like 開ける／開く, 壊す／壊れる and 落とす／落ちる: someone does it or it happens, and the difference between ～ている and ～てある.
Someone does it, or it happens
Many Japanese verbs come in pairs. The transitive verb (, tadōshi) says that someone does something to an object, marked with (o): (doa o akeru), to open the door. The intransitive verb (, jidōshi) says that something happens, with the thing as the subject, marked with (ga): (doa ga aku), the door opens.
English often uses the same verb for both (“I opened the door”, “the door opened”), so it's easy to mix them up. In Japanese, the wrong verb is a clear mistake: ドアが開ける is simply wrong.
- 窓を開けてもいいですか。Mado o akete mo ii desu ka.May I open the window?
- 風で窓が開きました。Kaze de mado ga akimashita.The window opened in the wind.
Common pairs
Some endings repeat: ～まる / ～める (, ; , ), ～れる / ～す (, ), ～る / ～す (, ). But the same ending can go either way: (akeru) is transitive, while (kieru) is intransitive. So it's best to learn each pair together.
| Intransitive (): it happens | Transitive (): someone does it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (aku) | (akeru) | open |
| (shimaru) | (shimeru) | close |
| (tsuku) | (tsukeru) | come on, turn on |
| (kieru) | (kesu) | go off, turn off |
| (hajimaru) | (hajimeru) | begin, start |
| (tomaru) | (tomeru) | stop |
| (kowareru) | (kowasu) | break |
| (ochiru) | (otosu) | fall, drop |
| (hairu) | (ireru) | go in, put in |
| (deru) | (dasu) | go out, take out |
| (mitsukaru) | (mitsukeru) | be found, find |
| (naoru) | (naosu) | be fixed, fix |
| (kawaru) | (kaeru) | change |
| (kimaru) | (kimeru) | be decided, decide |
| (okiru) | (okosu) | get up, wake someone up |
| (todoku) | (todokeru) | arrive, deliver |
Choosing the intransitive
Japanese often describes events with the intransitive verb, as things that simply happened, where English names a person. (kaigi ga hajimarimasu), the meeting is starting; (saifu ga mitsukarimashita), my wallet has been found.
The choice also shows responsibility. (pasokon ga kowareta), the computer broke, says it just happened; (pasokon o kowashita), I broke the computer, admits that you did it. In a shop, the intransitive sounds neutral: (dengen ga hairanai n desu), it won't turn on. When apologising, the transitive shows you take responsibility: (taisetsu na osara o watte shimaimashita), I'm afraid I broke your precious plate.
- 炊飯器が急に動かなくなりました。Suihanki ga kyū ni ugokanaku narimashita.The rice cooker suddenly stopped working.
- すみません、スマホを落として、画面が割れてしまいました。Sumimasen, sumaho o otoshite, gamen ga warete shimaimashita.I dropped my phone and the screen cracked.
- 台風で電車が止まった。Taifū de densha ga tomatta.The trains stopped because of the typhoon.
～ている or ～てある
To describe the state things are in, use the intransitive verb + (iru): (denki ga tsuite iru), the light is on. It says nothing about who did it.
The transitive verb + (aru) also describes a state, but adds that someone did it on purpose, usually as preparation: (denki ga tsukete aru), the light has been left on (for someone). The transitive verb + puts the person in focus: (denki o tsukete iru), someone has the light on (and keeps it on).
To do something in advance, use the transitive verb + (oku): (mado o akete oite kudasai), please open the windows (before people arrive).
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (mado ga aite iru) | the window is open |
| (mado ga akete aru) | the window has been opened (on purpose) |
| (mado o akete iru) | someone has the window open |
| (mado o akete oku) | open the window in advance |
- 店の前に自転車が止めてある。Mise no mae ni jitensha ga tomete aru.Someone has parked a bicycle in front of the shop.
- 会議室のエアコンがついていますよ。Kaigishitsu no eakon ga tsuite imasu yo.The air conditioner in the meeting room is on.