Have you ever wondered why sometimes you see the particle を (o) used with an object, and other times the particle が (ga) is used, even when the verb looks similar? This common point of confusion for Japanese learners is often due to the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. Understanding this concept is a major breakthrough that will make your sentences sound more natural and precise.
Think of it this way: some verbs describe an action that someone does *to* something, while others describe something that just *happens*. This is the core difference between transitive and intransitive verbs, and luckily, in Japanese, they often come in predictable pairs. This guide will break it down simply, with plenty of examples.
Quick Summary: The Core Difference
| Verb Type | Japanese Name | Core Idea | Key Particle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transitive | 他動詞 (tadōshi) | Someone does something to an object. | を (o) | ドアを開ける (doa o akeru) -I open the door |
| Intransitive | 自動詞 (jidōshi) | Something happens on its own. | が (ga) | ドアが開く (doa ga aku) – The door opens |
Transitive Verbs (他動詞): The Do-er and the Done-to
A transitive verb requires a direct object. It transfers the action from a subject (the do-er) to an object (the thing being acted upon). The key is that there is a conscious agent performing the action. This direct object is almost always marked by the particle を (o).
田中さんは電気をつけました。
たなかさんはでんきをつけました。
Tanaka-san wa denki o tsukemashita.
Mr. Tanaka turned on the light.
Subject: 田中さん (Mr. Tanaka) – The person doing the action.
Verb: つけました (tsukemashita) – Turned on (Transitive).
Direct Object: 電気 (denki) – The light that was turned on.
Intransitive Verbs (自動詞): It Just Happens
An intransitive verb does not take a direct object. It describes a state of being or an action that happens on its own, without a direct agent causing it. The subject of this action—the thing that is changing or moving—is usually marked by the particle が (ga).
電気がつきました。
でんきがつきました。
Denki ga tsukimashita.
The light turned on.
Subject: 電気 (denki) – The light that changed state.
Verb: つきました (tsukimashita) – Turned on (Intransitive).
Direct Object: None! The light turned on by itself.
The Famous Verb Pairs: Examples Galore
The best way to learn these verbs is by studying them in their transitive (T) and intransitive (I) pairs. Notice the particle change and the subtle shift in meaning from “doing an action” to “an action occurring.”
To Open
(T) 開ける (あける) – akeru
私 は 窓 を 開けます。 (Watashi wa mado o akemasu.) – I open the window.
(I) 開く (あく) – aku
窓 が 開きます。 (Mado ga akimasu.) – The window opens.
To Close
(T) 閉める (しめる) – shimeru
彼 は ドア を 閉めました。 (Kare wa doa o shimemashita.) – He closed the door.
(I) 閉まる (しまる) – shimaru
ドア が 閉まりました。 (Doa ga shimarimashita.) – The door closed.
To Put In / To Enter
(T) 入れる (いれる) – ireru
猫 を 箱 に 入れます。 (Neko o hako ni iremasu.) – I put the cat in the box.
(I) 入る (はいる) – hairu
猫 が 箱 に 入ります。 (Neko ga hako ni hairimasu.) – The cat enters the box.
To Take Out / To Exit
(T) 出す (だす) – dasu
財布 を 鞄 から 出します。 (Saifu o kaban kara dashimasu.) – I take the wallet out of the bag.
(I) 出る (でる) – deru
彼 が 部屋 から 出ます。 (Kare ga heya kara demasu.) – He leaves the room.
To Turn On
(T) つける – tsukeru
テレビ を つけてください。 (Terebi o tsukete kudasai.) – Please turn on the TV.
(I) つく – tsuku
テレビ が ついています。 (Terebi ga tsuite imasu.) – The TV is on.
To Turn Off / To Go Out
(T) 消す (けす) – kesu
火 を 消しました。 (Hi o keshimashita.) – I extinguished the fire.
(I) 消える (きえる) – kieru
火 が 消えました。 (Hi ga kiemashita.) – The fire went out.
To Begin
(T) 始める (はじめる) – hajimeru
宿題 を 始めましょう。 (Shukudai o hajimemashou.) – Let’s begin the homework.
(I) 始まる (はじまる) – hajimaru
映画 が 始まります。 (Eiga ga hajimarimasu.) – The movie is beginning.
To End
(T) 終える (おえる) – oeru
仕事 を 終えました。 (Shigoto o oemashita.) – I finished the work.
(I) 終わる (おわる) – owaru
仕事 が 終わりました。 (Shigoto ga owarimashita.) – The work has finished.
To Drop
(T) 落とす (おとす) – otosu
鍵 を 落としました。 (Kagi o otoshimashita.) – I dropped my keys.
(I) 落ちる (おちる) – ochiru
鍵 が 落ちました。 (Kagi ga ochimashita.) – The keys dropped.
To Wake Up
(T) 起こす (おこす) – okosu
母 は 子供 を 起こします。 (Haha wa kodomo o okoshimasu.) – The mother wakes up the child.
(I) 起きる (おきる) – okiru
子供 が 起きます。 (Kodomo ga okimasu.) – The child wakes up.
How to Spot the Difference
While there’s no single magic rule, there are common sound patterns that can help you guess. As you see more pairs, you’ll develop an intuition for them.
- Verbs ending in -す (-su) are often Transitive (e.g., 出す – dasu). Their intransitive pair often ends in -る (-ru) (e.g., 出る – deru).
- Verbs ending in -える (-eru) are often Transitive (e.g., 入れる – ireru). Their intransitive pair might end in -る (-ru) (e.g., 入る – hairu).
- Verbs ending in -ある (-aru) are often Intransitive (e.g., 閉まる – shimaru). Their transitive pair often ends in -える (-eru) (e.g., 閉める – shimeru).
The best strategy: Don’t try to memorize rules. Instead, whenever you learn a new verb, learn its pair at the same time. Think of them as a “buy one, get one free” deal. This will naturally build your understanding and make the particle usage second nature.
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