Japanese Transitive Vs. Japanese Intransitive Verbs :You know what a verb is, but transitive and intransitive verbs? What do those mean?! Today we’re going to learn the difference between the two, what particles to use with them, and how to use them to create nuance when speaking Japanese.
Contents
Japanese Transitive Vs. Japanese Intransitive Verbs: What Are They, and What Do They Have to Do with Me?
Let’s start by breaking down a simple English sentence:
The boy bought an apple.
In the above example, we have a subject, a verb, and a direct object. The subject of the sentence (the boy) is the focal point of the sentence (i.e. what the sentence is about). The verb (bought) is the action that the subject performs. The direct object (an apple) is the object that the subject uses to perform the action. Therefore, the formula looks like this:
Subject + Verb + Direct Object
Now, let’s take away the direct object and see what we come up with…
The boy bought.
What?! That doesn’t make any sense! You can’t just say that the boy bought. What in the world did he buy?
The reason a direct object is necessary in this sentence is because “buy” is a transitive verb. A transitive verb needs a direct object in order to make sense.
Let’s look at another example:
The plane flew.
Here, there is no direct object, just a subject and a verb. And guess what, it makes sense! The plane doesn’t need an object to perform the action of flying. It can just fly and be done with it!
The reason a direct object is NOT necessary in the above example is because “fly” is an intransitive verb. An intransitive verb does NOT need a direct object in order to make sense.
Japanese Transitive Verbs
Now that we have a better understanding of transitive vs. intransitive, let’s take a look at some Japanese sentences with transitive verbs.
私は夜ご飯を食べました。
Watashi wa yorugohan wo tabemashita.
I ate dinner.
Tabemashita (ate) can be either a transitive or intransitive verb depending on the sentence. In this case, it is transitive because it takes on the direct object yorugohan (dinner). Here is the breakdown of this sentence structure (in the order of the Japanese):
Watashi wa yorugohan wo tabemashita.
| Subject | Direct Object | Verb |
| Watashi | yorugohan | tabemashita |
| I | dinner | ate |
Wa is the particle used to mark the subject in a Japanese sentence, and wo is used to mark the direct object. Let’s look at some other examples.
彼女は新聞を読みました。
Kanojo wa shinbun wo yomimashita.
She read a newspaper.
彼達は宿題をしました。
Kare-tachi wa shukudai wo shimashita.
They did their homework.
私達は映画を見ました。
Watashi-tachi wa eiga wo mimashita.
We watched a movie.
As you can see, in all of the examples above, the direct objects are marked with “wo.”
Sometimes, however, the subject and the direct object are one and the same. In this case, you use “wa” instead of “wo” to mark the subject/direct object.
JapaneseTransitive Verbs – Example:
A: 今週末私達はどうしましょうか？映画を見る？買い物する？カラオケ？
B: カラオケは、一人だけで歌う。だから映画か買い物にしましょう。
A: Konshuumatsu watashi-tachi wa dou shimashou ka? Eiga wo miru? Kaimono suru? Karaoke?
B: Karaoke wa, hitori dake de utau. Dakara eiga ka kaimono ni shimashou.
A: What should we do this weekend? Watch a movie? Go shopping? Karaoke?
B: I only sing karaoke alone. So, let’s see a movie or go shopping.
カラオケは、一人だけで歌う。
Karaoke wa, hitori dake de utau.
I only sing karaoke alone.
| Subject / Direct Object | Verb |
| karaoke | utaimasu |
| karaoke | sing |
In sentences using the causative verb form (e.g. “The parents let him watch TV.” “Mom made me eat my vegetables.”), you insert the person being made/let to do something. Then you mark it with ni (see the next section for how to deal with intransitive verbs using the causative form).
JapaneseTransitive Verbs – Examples:
母は私に部屋を掃除させた。
Haha wa watashi ni heya wo souji saseta.
My mom made me clean my room.
先生は彼女に日本語を習わせた。
Sensei wa kanojo ni nihongo wo narawaseta.
The teacher made her learn Japanese.
Japanese Intransitive Verbs
Unlike transitive verbs, intransitive verbs do NOT need a direct object in order to make sense.
彼は立っています。
Kare wa tatte imasu.
He is standing.
彼女は泳いでいます。
Kanojo wa oyoide imasu.
She is swimming.
高橋さんは歩いています。
Takahashi-san wa aruite imasu.
Mr. Takahashi is walking.
Intransitive verbs can also be used to show nuance, such as a person being adversely affected by an action or event. In this case, the intransitive verb is used in the passive form. The particle ni is then attached to the action/event that adversely affects the subject.
Japanese Intransitive Verbs – Examples:
先週私は犬に死なれた。
Senshuu watashi wa inu ni shinareta.
My dog died last week (and I am sad).
昨日彼は雨に降られた。
Kinou kare wa ame ne furareta.
It rained yesterday (and he was sad).
彼女は映画館で身長が高い人が前に座られた。
Kanojo wa eigakan de shinchou ga takai hito ga mae ni suwarareta.
A tall person sat in front of her at the movie theater (and she was annoyed).
In sentences using the causative verb form, the person being made/let to do something is inserted and marked by wo for intransitive verbs.
お父さんは少年をディズニーランドに行かせてやった。
Otousan wa shounen wo Dizuniirando ni ikasete yatta.
The father let the boy go to Disneyland.
上司は彼を家で働かせた。
Joushi wa kare wo ie de hatarakaseta.
The boss let him work from home.
In short, transitive verbs are those that need a direct object in order to make sense (e.g. “I sent her a letter.” “He gave me some money.”). The direct object is marked with an wo in Japanese (and in some cases wa). In sentences using the causative form, the person being affected is inserted and marked with a ni.
Intransitive verbs do NOT need a direct object in order to make sense (e.g. “She ran.” “I jumped.”). Intransitive verbs can be used to create the nuance of being adversely affected by an action or event. To do this, the intransitive verb is conjugated into the passive form, and the particle ni is attached to the action/event that adversely affects the subject. In sentences using the causative form, the person being affected is marked with an wo.
Now that you have a better understanding of the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs, it’s time to get out there and use them! Try coming up with your own sentences and running them by a Japanese speaker to see if they make sense! Imagine how awesome you will feel when they do!
Never forget that learning something new is pointless unless you get out there and practice it. So get out there already and practice, practice, practice!