Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 1: 16/18

他動詞(たどうし)自動詞(じどうし)Done through action vs. occurring on its own

する and なる can also be thought of as a transitive-intransitive pair

Structure

Transitive・Intransitive

()とす()ちる
To drop・To fall

ける
To attach・To be attached

()ける()かる
To find・To be found

()げる()がる
To lower・To be lowered

Details

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About 他動詞・自動詞

The two most fundamental divisions that can be made with Japanese verbs are transitive verbs - the subject is moving/acting upon something else, and intransitive verbs - the subject themself is moving/acting. Sometimes these terms are simplified even further to 'other-move' (transitive), and 'self-move' (intransitive).

Basically, this is the difference between verbs that require an object marked with (transitive verbs), and those that only require , to show that the subject itself is moving (intransitive).

In Japanese, there are many transitive/intransitive pairs of verbs, and these will need to be memorized.

Fun Fact

In Japanese, the two ways in which all verbs can be described are an act/motion (動作(どうさ)), and an act/motion upon something (作用(さよう)).

Fun Fact

Although they are not traditionally grouped this way, する and なる may also be thought of as a transitive/intransitive pair. This is due to する always implying that something is being controlled (acted upon), while なる always implies that something happens on its own, or cannot be controlled.

Examples

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    (むし)(あつ)(むし)(あつ)まった

    I gathered bugs. The bugs gathered.

    (さが)ていたカバン()つけた

    I found the bag that I had been looking for.

    犯人(はんにん)()つかった

    The criminal has been found.

    ケーキ(うえ)()ていたロウソク()した

    I blew out (extinguished) the candles on the cake.

    台所(だいどころ)ライト()えた

    The light in the kitchen went out.

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他動詞・自動詞 – Grammar Discussion