Visualizing Japanese Grammar Appendix Shoko Hamano George Washington University

Transitive and intransitive verb pairs A large number of transitive and intransitive verbs are paired. They are only slightly different in shape and meaning and may confuse you. Here are some practical hints for telling them apart. Transitive and intransitive verb pairs Su- vs. non-su-ending Transitive Intransitive なおす fix なおる be fixed こわす break something こわれる break つぶす crush つぶれる be crushed こぼす spill something こぼれる spill 返す（かえす）return 帰る（かえる）return 戻す（もどす）put back 戻る（もどる）return 回す（まわす）turn around something 回る（まわる）turn around 残す（のこす）leave behind 残る（のこる）remain 散らかす（ちらかす）scatter 散らかる（ちらかる）be scattered 離す（はなす）separate 離れる（はなれる）move away 流す（ながす）flush 流れる（ながれる）flow 表わす（あらわす）express 現われる（あらわれる）appear 外す（はずす）remove 外れる（はずれる）come off 隠す（かくす）hide something 隠れる（かくれる）hide oneself 崩す（くずす）break down something 崩れる（くずれる）break down 倒す（たおす）throw down 倒れる（たおれる）fall Generally speaking, if a su-ending verb has a non-su-ending counterpart, the su-ending one is the transitive one, and the other the intransitive one.

Transitive and intransitive verb pairs Here are more. Transitive and intransitive verb pairs Su- vs. non-su-ending Transitive Intransitive 起こす（おこす）raise 起きる（おきる）rise 落とす（おとす）drop 落ちる（おちる）fall 降ろす（おろす）lower 降りる（おりる）get off 過ごす（すごす）pass something 過ぎる（すぎる）pass 滅ぼす（ほろぼす）destroy 滅びる（ほろびる）perish 延ばす（のばす）stretch something 延びる（のびる）stretch 尽くす（つくす）exhaust 尽きる（つきる）run out 漏らす（もらす）leak something 漏れる（もれる）leak 荒す（あらす）devastate 荒れる（あれる）fall to ruin 燃やす（もやす）burn something 燃える（もえる）burn 冷やす（ひやす）chill 冷える（ひえる）be chilled 増やす（ふやす）increase something 増える（ふえる）increase

Transitive and intransitive verb pairs And more. Transitive and intransitive verb pairs Su- vs. non-su-ending Transitive Intransitive 減らす（へらす）decrease something 減る（へる）decrease 乾かす（かわかす）dry something 乾く（かわく）get dry 驚かす（おどろかす）surprise 驚く（おどろく）be surprised 動かす（うごかす）move something 動く（うごく）move 出す（だす）put out 出る（でる）go out 消す（けす）extinguish 消える（きえる）vanish

Transitive and intransitive verb pairs If an eru-ending verb is paired with an aru-ending verb, the eru-ending one is the transitive one. Transitive and intransitive verb pairs Eru- vs. aru-ending Transitive Intransitive ぶつける hit ぶつかる collide まとめる organize まとまる be organized つなげる connect つながる be connected かける hang something かかる hang 暖める（あたためる）warm something 暖まる（あたたまる）get warm 上げる（あげる）raise 上がる（あがる）go up 終える（おえる）finish something 終わる（おわる）finish 始める（はじめる）begin something 始まる（はじまる）begin 広める（ひろめる）spread knowledge 広まる（ひろまる）spread 深める（ふかめる）deepen 深まる（ふかまる）be deepened 重ねる（かさねる）pile 重なる（かさなる）be piled up 固める（かためる）make solid 固まる（かたまる）become solid 変える（かえる）change something 変わる（かわる）change 曲げる（まげる）bend something 曲がる（まがる）bend 混ぜる（まぜる）mix 混ざる（まざる）be mixed

Transitive and intransitive verb pairs And here are some more. Transitive and intransitive verb pairs Eru- vs. aru-ending Transitive Intransitive 見つける（みつける）find 見つかる（みつかる）be found 閉める（しめる）close something 閉まる（しまる）close 止める（とめる）stop something 止まる（とまる）stop 泊める（とめる）lodge a person 泊まる（とまる）stay over 伝える（つたえる）communicate 伝わる（つたわる）be passed on 分ける（わける）divide 分かる（わかる）understand 受ける（うける）take a test 受かる（うかる）pass a test つかまえる catch つかまる be caught

Transitive and intransitive verb pairs The dichotomy is a relative one. Kasu “lend” and kariru “borrow” are both transitive in one sense because they take an o-marked direct object. However, in terms of the meaning, kasu is more transitive because an object moves away from the lender. Kariru is more intransitive in the sense that an object merges with the borrower. The same explanation holds for the other two pairs. Transitive and intransitive verb pairs More-or-less cases More transitive Less transitive 貸す（かす）lend 借りる（かりる）borrow 預ける（あずける）deposit 預かる（あずかる）receive 教える（おしえる）teach 教わる（おそわる）learn