The Interesting Points of Japanese Language – Intransitive and Transitive –

First, please look at the picture.

This is a poster put up outside the front of the shop. It said “さんま　焼けました (Samma Yakemashita).” “さんま（秋刀魚） (Samma)” is pacific saury, it is a seasonal fish in Autumn for Japanese people. Japanese people eat grilled pacific saury with grated daikon/white radish and soy sauce. It is the best!

Anyway, the grilled “さんま” is sold at the shop. What is the interesting point of the poster?

We see “さんま” first of all since the particles, (が) and (を) , are abbreviated at the poster. It is an effective catchphrase. Then, the questions is why it is written “焼けました (yakemashita)” not “焼きました (yakimashita).”

A: さんま(が)焼けました           (Samma (ga) yakemashita)
B: さんま(を)焼きました       (Samma (wo) yakimashita)

The nuisance of “A: 焼けました (yakemashita)” is that the pacific saury is grilled before anyone knows because “焼ける (yakeru)” is intransitive. On the other hand, that of “B: 焼きました (yakimashita)” is that “someone grilled the pacific saury purposely” since “焼く (yaku)” is transitive. (transitive in blue below as follows)

If the poster says “さんま　焼きました (Samma Yakimashita),” it sounds pushy for Japanese people, “the owner grilled pacific saury to them.” However, “A: 焼けました (yakemashita)” have people imagine freshly grilled pacific saury and want to buy it naturally. This is the skillful points of catchphrases.

お母さんがご飯を作ってくれています。
(Okasanga gohanwo tsukutte kurete imasu: My mother is making dishes.)

If we are said, “さあ、みんな、ごはんができたよ(Sa, minna, gohanga dekitayo: Hey, guys, dishes are ready),” all family members go to the table. On the other hand, if we are said, “さあ、ごはん作ったよ (Sa, gohan tsukuttayo: Hey, I made the dishes),” we cannot feel the dishes do not sound tasty. “私が作った (Watashiga tsukutta: I made them)” sounds pushy. There are such big difference between “できた (intransitive)” and “つくった (transitive).”

Let’s talk about an adult story.

Have you ever heard “できちゃった婚 (dekichattakon): shotgun marriage”? This “できちゃった (dekichatta)” has two nuances. First, “できた (dekita)” means “can / be able to” and it is a intransitive. Second, “～ちゃった (~ chatta)” means failure. So “できちゃった (dekichatta)” give Japanese people the image that “we get a baby but we had not wanted to have our baby yet.” Intransitive verbs have a strong image of being unintentional and happening naturally, and in some cases can seem irresponsible. In contrast, transitive verbs give a strong image of the purpose and intention of the action.

For example, a window of the house nearby is broken with a ball when children play baseball. Children will say “ガラスが割れた (garasuga wareta): The window was broken” but neighbors will say “子どもたちがガラスを割った (kodomotachiga garasuwo watta): The children broke the window.”

In Japan, in train, conductors say “ご注意ください。ドアが閉まります (Gochui kudasai. Doaga shimarimasu): Be careful. The door is closing” and “電車が動きます (Denshaga ugokimasu): The train is now departing.” Actually, the conductor closes the door and the train driver drives the train. However, in Japanese, we express that as if the doors close automatically and the train moves on its own. Even in the case of a fire, intransitive verbs are used, such as “家が焼けた (Iega yaketa): The house was burn” just as in the case of a natural phenomenon such as rain falling.

As such, Japanese people usually use intransitive verbs in daily life since they like euphemistic expressions not to insist on their own opinion strongly. Using a transitive verb makes a stronger statement, emphasizing the intention and responsibility of the person who performed the action.

Child: “あ、ミルクがこぼれちゃった (Mirukuga koborechatta): Oops milk is spilled.”
Mom: “こぼしたんでしょう！ (Koboshitandesho!): YOU spilled it!”

Child: “服が汚れちゃった (Fukuga yogorechatta): My clothes is dirty.”
Mom: “Cちゃんが汚したんでしょう！ (Cchanga yogoshitandesho!): YOU made the mess!”

Intransitive verbs have such an irresponsible nuance, so we tend to use transitive verbs when we want to hold other people to account. Like this, “The victim didn’t die, you killed him.”

Now, let’s think about the differences between intransitive and transitive, focusing on the sentence pattern “verb + て (te).”

“～てある (~ tearu)”
： It means to intentionally leave something in a certain state. Generally, transitive verbs are used, and it is unusual for intransitive verbs to be used.

– ドアのカギは開けてありますよ (Doano kagiha akete arimasuyo)
: The door is not locked. Anyone can enter there.

– 引き出しにピストルがしまってある (Hikidashini pisutoruga shimatte aru)
: There is a pistol in the drawer just in case something happens.

“～ておく (~ teoku)”
：  It means to intentionally prepare something. Generally, transitive verbs are used, and it is unusual for intransitive verbs to be used.

– ご飯を食べておく (Gohanwo tabete oku)
: I am eating dishes now, because I do not have time to eat lunch today.

– 水を飲まないでおく (Mizuwo nomanaide oku)
: I do not drink water because I will have to go to the bathroom at midnight.

“～ている (~ teiru)”
：Since it describes a current state, an intransitive verb is used. A transitive verb would describe something that is currently happening, or a habit or occupation.

– 木の枝が折れている (Kinoedaga oreteiru)
: Tree branches are broken【state】

– 木の枝を折っている (Kinoedawo otteiru)
: Someone is breaking a tree branch【progress】

– 窓ガラスが割れている (Madogarasuga wareteiru)
: The window is broken【state】

– 窓ガラスを割っている (Madogarasuwo watteiru)
: Someone is breaking the window  【progress】

– 毎週ゴルフをしている (Maishu gorufuwo shiteiru)
: I play golf every week【custom】

– 学校で英語を教えている (Gakkode eigowo oshieteiru)
: I teach English at school 【job】

“～てくる (~ tekuru)”
：When used intransitively, it means that a certain state will gradually come, while when used transitively, it gives a stronger sense of ” “coming” after the action is performed.

– 雨が降ってきた (Amega futte kita): It starts to rain
– 傘を持ってきた (Kasawo motte kita): I bring my umbrella
– 暖かくなってきた (Atatakaku natte kita): It is getting warm
– 暖かくしてきた (Atatakaku shite kita): I wear warmer clothes

When we focus on how verbs are used in the form “verb + て (te),” we can see that intransitive verbs are used to express something that happened naturally or a certain state, while transitive verbs give a stronger sense of the will, intent, and purpose of the person who performed the action.

Some verbs can be made transitive or intransitive by changing the terminations. It is also one of the huge features of the Japanese language. For example,

(ドア)を開(あ)ける (Doawo akeru): I open the door – が開く (ga hiraku)
(ドア)を閉(し)める (Doawo shimeru): I close the door – が閉まる (ga shimaru)
(電球)をつける (Denkyuwo tukeru): I turn on the light – がつく (ga tsuku)
(火)を消(け)す (Hiwo kesu): I put out the fire – が消える (ga kieru)
(服)を掛(か)ける (Fukuwo kakeru): I hang my clothes – が掛かる (ga kakaru)
(椅子)を並(なら)べる (Isuwo naraberu): I line up the chairs – が並ぶ (ga narabu)
(予定)を決(き)める (Yoteiwo kimeru): I decide the plan – が決める (ga kimeru)
(予定)を変(か)える (Yoteiwo kaeru): I change the plan – が変わる (ga kawaru)
(服)を乾(かわ)かす (Fukuwo kawakasu): I dry my clothes – が乾く (ga kawaku)
(石)を落(お)とす (Ishiwo otosu): I drop the stone – が落ちる (ga ochiru)

Depending on the mother tongue of learners, the distinction between intransitive and transitive verbs is sometimes not so clear. Also, some people have no experience studying a foreign language with clear intransitive and transitive verbs, such as English. In such cases, if you study on your own, you may not notice the difference in form, meaning, or nuance between transitive and intransitive verbs.

At TCJ, teachers will clearly point out and guide you, so you will be able to study consciously. Studying intransitive and transitive verbs thoroughly is an effective way to improve your Japanese skill.