Intransitive Verb/Transitive Verb

A verb is a part of speech that expresses an action or existence.

There are two types of verbs: intransitive verb and transitive verb. A verb that doesn’t require an object is an intransitive verb. A verb that requires an object is a transitive verb.

It is important to distinguish between an intransitive verb and a transitive verb in Japanese, but it is said that even advanced learners of Japanese find it difficult to distinguish between the two.

This page explains an intransitive verb and a transitive verb.

Intransitive Verb

An intransitive verb is a verb that does not require an object. The meaning can be understood by the intransitive verb alone.

For example, the following are intransitive verbs:

The object “〇〇を” is not required, and the meaning can be understood even without the object.

If the basic form of a verb, which doesn’t have change in the ending part (the vowel of the last character is “う”), ends in “〇〇aru”, then the verb is almost always intransitive.

For example, the following are intransitive verbs:

If the basic form of a verb, which doesn’t have change in the ending part (the vowel of the last character is “う”), ends in “〇〇reru”, then the verb is almost always intransitive.

For example, the following are intransitive verbs:

Transitive Verb

A transitive verb is a verb that requires an object. The object “〇〇を” is placed before the verb.

For example, the following are transitive verbs:

The action is not clear without the object “〇〇を”.

The transitive verb “食たべる” requires the object “ご飯はんを” to clarify what is being eaten.

The transitive verb “飲のむ” requires the object “お茶ちゃを” to clarify what is being drunk.

However, when the “〇〇を” part indicates a location, such as in “道みちを　　走はしる” or “川かわを　　泳およぐ”, “〇〇を” is not an object, so “走はしる” and “泳およぐ” are not transitive verbs.

If the basic form of a verb, which doesn’t have change in the ending part (the vowel of the last character is “う”), ends in “〇〇す”, then the verb is almost always transitive.

For example, the following are transitive verbs:

Relation between Verb and Intransitive/Transitive Verb

The relation between verbs and intransitive/transitive verbs can be classified into the following four patterns.

⚫︎ Verb that has both intransitive verb and transitive verb

⚫︎ Verb that has only intransitive verb

⚫︎ Verb that has only transitive verb

⚫︎ Verb whose intransitive verb and transitive verb are the same

Verb That Has Both Intransitive Verb and Transitive Verb

Intransitive Verb	Transitive Verb
（机つくえが）　　壊こわれる	（椅子いすを）　　壊こわす
（お金かねが）　　増ふえる	（友達ともだちを）　　増ふやす
（地震じしんが）　　起おきる	（妹いもうとを）　　起おこす
（人ひとが）　　集あつまる	（本ほんを）　　集あつめる
（部屋へやが）　　温あたたまる	（水みずを）　　温あたためる

Verb That Has Only Intransitive Verb

Intransitive Verb	Transitive Verb
座すわる	ー
降ふる	ー
走はしる	ー
泳およぐ	ー
来くる	ー

Verb That Has Only Transitive Verb

Intransitive Verb	Transitive Verb
ー	（新聞しんぶんを）　　読よむ
ー	（景色けしきを）　　見みる
ー	（友達ともだちを）　　褒ほめる
ー	（風かぜを）　　感かんじる
ー	（虫むしを）　　嫌きらう

Verb Whose Intransitive Verb and Transitive Verb Are the Same

Intransitive Verb	Transitive Verb
（店みせが）　　開ひらく	（本ほんを）　　開ひらく
（風かぜが）　　吹ふく	（笛ふえを）　　吹ふく
（光ひかりが）　　反射はんしゃする	（光ひかりを）　　反射はんしゃする
（鳥とりが）　　休やすむ	（仕事しごとを）　　休やすむ
（水みずが）　引ひく	（紐ひもを）　　引ひく