Usage of Verbs When They Can Be Both Intransitive and Transitive

If you try to categorize intransitive verbs, there will be two groups: The first is volitional (actions with
はし およ
people’s intention), such as “ 走 る: to run” and “ 泳 ぐ: to swim.” The second is non-volitional
あ お
(actions without people’s intention), such as “ 開く: to open,” and “ 落ちる: to drop.” The latter
group likely has equivalent transitive verbs. In English, you can use verbs like “to open” as both an
intransitive and a transitive verb, e.g. “The door will open,” and “I will open the door.” However,
Japanese requires you to use different forms for intransitive and transitive verbs respectively.

The Difference Between Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

あ
Intransitive Verbs: 開く to open

あ あ
ドア は / が 開く / 開きます

Topic / Subject Intransitive Verb

The door will open.

When you walk toward an automatic door, the door automatically opens. In such a situation, the
door has to be the subject set by the particle は or が, and there is no object because the door alone
will move. Intransitive verbs indicate automatic or natural actions.
あ
Transitive Verbs: 開ける to open
 わたし あ あ
[ 私  は / が] ドアを 開ける / 開けます

[Topic / Subject] Direct Object Transitive Verb

[I] will open the door.

When you open a door, the door is opened by you. In such situations, the door must be
the object set by the particle を, and there must be subjects because someone will open the door.
Transitive verbs indicate intentional actions.

ああ
Intransitive
ドア は / が（ 開く / 開きます）。

あ あ
Transitive
ドアを（ 開ける / 開けます）。

As you already know, subjects can be omitted when the context clearly tells what or who you are
わたし
referring to. In the second example, the subject:  私  is omitted. Do not be confused by the
structure.

Advanced Topic: Sentences with Some Elements

Even if you use intransitive verbs, you sometimes need to use the particle を. Take it easy. By
understanding the particles’ functions, you can easily figure out the meanings of sentences.
で
Intransitive Verbs: 出る: to go out, leave, depart

でんしゃ えき で で
電車  は / が 駅 を 出る / 出ます

[Topic / Subject] Location to Leave Intransitive Verb

The train will leave the station.

 だ
Transitive Verbs: 出す: to take out, let out, put out

わたし でんしゃ えき だ だ
[ 私  は / が] 電車 を 駅 から 出す / 出します

[Topic / Subject] Direct Object Starting Point Transitive Verb

[I] will take the train out from the station.

The second example sounds a little weird, but he/she may be a train driver or engineer. The point
here is that the particle を can appear in sentences with intransitive verbs if it does not work as a
direct object.
えき
Note: In the second example above, you may have noticed that the particle から is used with  駅
えき
while the particle を is used with  駅  in the first example. This is because using the same particles
multiple times in a single sentence may cause confusion and therefore is not recommended in
Japanese grammar.

でんしゃ えき だ だ
[私 は / が]  電車 を 駅 を 出す / 出します。Wrong!

Vocabulary List: How to Distinguish Between Intransitive and Transitive Verbs

Although the multiple forms are hard to memorize, there are several patterns in the conjugations.
We will show you frequently used verbs below. Please do not try to memorize them all at once but
tackle them step by step.

Pattern 1

If verbs end with -aru, they are intransitive verbs.

They become transitive verbs by replacing -aru with eru.

Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

あ あ
上がる: to rise 上げる: to raise

あつ あつ
集 まる: to gather 集 める: to collect

たか たか
高 まる: to increase 高 める: to increase

つた つた
伝 わる: to spread, go around 伝 える: to tell, inform
 Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

お お
終わる: to finish, to end  終える*: to finish, end

か か
変わる: to change 変える: to change

かかる: to take (resources) かける: to spend, take (time)

き き
決まる: to be decided 決める: to decided

さ さ
下がる: to fall, lower, drop 下げる: to lower, pull down, reduce 

し し
閉まる: to close 閉める: to close

と と
止まる: to stop 止める: to stop

はじ はじ
始 まる: to start 始 める: to start

ま ま
曲がる: to bent, curve, turn 曲げる: to bend, curve

み み
見つかる: to be found 見つける: to find

お お
*終える sounds a little formal and 終わる can be used as transitive verb as well.

Pattern 2

If verbs end with -reru, they are intransitive verbs.

They become transitive verbs by replacing -reru with su.

Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

こわ こわ
壊 れる: to break 壊 す: to break

たお たお
倒 れる: to fall (to the ground), collapse 倒 す: to throw down, knock down
 Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

よご よご
汚 れる: to become dirty 汚 す: to make (it) dirty

Pattern 3

If verbs end with -reru, they are intransitive verbs.

They become transitive verbs by replacing -reru with ru.

Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

う う
売れる: to be sold 売る: to sell

お お
折れる: to break, snap 折る: to break, snap

き き
切れる: to be cut 切る: to cut

と と
撮れる: to be photographed, be recorded 撮る: to take (photo), to record (video)

わ わ
割れる: to break 割る: to break

Pattern 4

If verbs end with -areru, they are intransitive verbs.

They become transitive verbs by replacing -areru with u.

Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

う う
生まれる: to be born 生む: to give birth

Pattern 5

If verbs end with -su, they are transitive verbs.

They become intransitive verbs by replacing -su with ru.

 Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

うつ うつ
写 る: to be in a photo, be projected 写 す: to copy, transcribe, photograph

かえ かえ
帰 る: to go back 帰 す: to let a person go back

かえ かえ
返 る: to be returned 返 す: to return

で だ
出る: to go out, leave, depart 出す(*exception): to take out, let out, put out

なお なお
直 る: to be fixed, be repaired 直 す: to fix, repair

なお なお
治 る: to be cured, be recovered 治 す: to cure, heal

のこ のこ
残 る: to remain, stay 残 す: to leave

まわ まわ
回 る: to turn, rotate, revolve, spin 回 す: to turn, rotate, spin

もど もど
戻 る: to be back 戻 す: to return

Pattern 6

If verbs end with -asu, they are transitive verbs.

They become intransitive verbs by replacing -asu with eru.

Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

おく おく
遅 れる: to be delayed 遅 らす: to delay

に に
逃げる: to run away, escape 逃がす: to set … free, let …go

ぬれる: to get wet ぬらす: to wet

 Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

ひ ひ
冷える: to get cold 冷やす: to cool, to make … cold

ふ ふ
増える: to increase 増やす: to increase

ゆ ゆ
揺れる: to shake 揺らす: to sway, shake

き け
消える: to disappear 消す(*exception): to erase, turn off

Pattern 7

If verbs end with -asu, they are transitive verbs.

They become intransitive verbs by replacing -asu with u.

Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

うご うご
動 く: to move 動 かす: to move

かわ かわ
乾 く: to dry 乾 かす: to dry

と と
飛ぶ: to fly 飛ばす: to fly, send (up), splash

な な
泣く: to cry 泣かす: to make … cry

わ わ
沸く: to boil, be excited 沸かす: to boil, excite

Pattern 8

If verbs end with -osu, they are transitive verbs.

They become intransitive verbs by replacing -osu with iru.

Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

お お
起きる: to get up 起こす: to wake (up)
 Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

お お
落ちる: to fall, drop 落とす: to drop

お お
降りる: to get off 降ろす: to drop (off), unload

お お
下りる: to go down 下ろす: to pull down

Others

Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

あ あ
開く: to open 開ける: to open

あ あ
空く: to become vacant, empty 空ける: to vacant, empty

き き
聞こえる: to be heard 聞く: to hear, listen (to)

かた かた
片 づく: to be in order, be finished 片 づける: to put … in order, settle

そだ そだ
育 つ: to grow 育 てる: to raise

た た
立つ: to stand 立てる: to set up, put up

た た
建つ: to be built 建てる: to build

つ つ
付く: to stick (to) 付ける: to spread, apply, stick, attach

つづ つづ
続 く: to continue 続 ける: to continue

とど とど
届 く: to received 届 ける: to send
 Intransitive Verbs Transitive Verbs

や や
焼ける: to be burned 焼く: to burn

み み
見える: to be seen 見る: to look (at), watch, see

ね ね
寝る: to sleep 寝かせる: to send … to bed

の の
乗る: to ride, take 乗せる: to give a person a ride

Summary

1. When verbs can be both intransitive and transitive verbs:

o Intransitive verbs indicate automatic or natural actions

o Transitive verbs indicate intentional actions

o Transitive verbs need objects set by the particle を

o Intransitive verbs can be with the particle を unless it works as direct object

2. Using the same particles multiple times in a sentence is not recommended

Again, you do not have to memorize the vocabulary which we have shown so far all at once. All you
need to know here is what we have summarized above. You can naturally increase your vocabulary
as you proceed with your learning. Now, you have completed even the advanced topics in the parts
of speech section. Great Job! Next, you will learn one of the unique elements to Japanese: Sentence
Ending Particles.