Japanese grammar guide

Transitive and Intransitive Verb Pairs

Compare related Japanese verbs that describe doing something and something happening.

他動詞 Transitive verbs

A transitive verb describes an action performed on a direct object. The object is commonly marked by を (o).

私はドアを開けました。 Watashi wa doa o akemashita. — I opened the door.

自動詞 Intransitive verbs

An intransitive verb describes something happening or changing state without taking a direct object. The thing affected is often marked by が (ga).

ドアが開きました。 Doa ga akimashita. — The door opened.

A useful clue: transitive sentences often use を for the object, while intransitive sentences often use が for the thing that changes. This is a helpful pattern, not a complete rule for every sentence.

Japanese transitive and intransitive pairs

Many related verbs share a kanji but use different readings and endings. Select a romaji verb to open its full conjugation page.

他動詞 Transitive verb			自動詞 Intransitive verb
Romaji	Japanese	Meaning	Romaji	Japanese	Meaning
akeru	開ける	to open	aku	開く	to open, become vacant
arawasu	現す	to show, reveal	arawareru	現れる	to appear, show up
atsumeru	集める	to gather, collect	atsumaru	集まる	to gather, assemble
dasu	出す	to extract, take out	deru	出る	to go out
fuyasu	増やす	to increase	fueru	増える	to increase
hanasu	離す	to separate, release	hanareru	離れる	to separate from, leave
hayasu	生やす	to grow something	haeru	生える	to grow
hazusu	外す	to remove, unfasten	hazareru	外れる	to be disconnected, disengage
herasu	減らす	to reduce, decrease	heru	減る	to decrease, be reduced
hiyasu	冷やす	to cool, refridgerate	hieru	冷える	to cool down, become cold
hodoku	解く	to untie	hodokeru	解ける	to come untied, loose
ireru	入れる	to put in, let in	hairu	入る	to enter
kaeru	変える	to change	kawaru	変わる	to change
kaesu	返す	to give back, return (something to someone)	kaeru	帰る	to return, go home
kakeru	掛ける	to hang, sit, telephone, risk	kakaru	掛かる	to take, begin, be hanging
karasu	枯らす	to let wither	kareru	枯れる	to wither
kawakasu	乾かす	to dry	kawaku	乾く	to become dry
kesu	消す	to turn off, erase	kieru	消える	to vanish, go out, be extinguished
kiku	聞く	to listen	kikoeru	聞こえる	to be audible, able to hear
kimeru	決める	to decide, choose	kimaru	決まる	to be decided, agreed upon
kowasu	壊す	to break, smash	kowareru	壊れる	to get broken
kuwawaru	加わる	to join, participate	kuwaeru	加える	to add to, include
mawasu	回す	to turn, spin	mawaru	回る	to go round
miru	見る	to look	mieru	見える	to be visible, able to see
mitsukeru	見つける	to find	mitsukaru	見つかる	to be found
naosu	直す	to repair, cure	naoru	直る	to be cured, healed
nigasu	逃がす	to let escape	nigeru	逃げる	to run away, escape
noseru	乗せる	to put on top off, put on board	noru	乗る	to board, ride on
nuku	抜く	to extract	nukeru	抜ける	to be extracted, come out
okosu	起こす	to wake (somebody) up	okiru	起きる	to get up
orosu	降ろす	to drop off, unload	oriru	降りる	to get off, go down
otosu	落とす	to lose, drop	ochiru	落ちる	to fall, fail, go down
shimeru	閉める	to shut	shimaru	閉まる	to close, be closed
sodatsu	育つ	to grow up, be raised	sodateru	育てる	to to rear, to bring up
sugosu	過ごす	to spend (time)	sugiru	過ぎる	to pass, exceed
taosu	倒す	to overthrow, knock down	taoreru	倒れる	to fall down, collapse
tasukeru	助ける	to help	tasukaru	助かる	to be saved
tateru	立てる	to build	tatsu	立つ	to stand up
todokeru	届ける	to deliver	todoku	届く	to reach
tokasu	溶かす	to melt something	tokeru	溶ける	to melt, dissolve, come untied
tomeru	止める	to stop, fasten	tomaru	止まる	to stop
tosu	通す	to let through, let pass	toru	通る	to go through, pass
uru	売る	to sell	ureru	売れる	to be sold
wakasu	沸かす	to bring something to the boil	waku	沸く	to boil
watasu	渡す	to hand over	wataru	渡る	to cross
yaku	焼く	to bake, grill	yakeru	焼ける	to burn
yogosu	污す	to make dirty, stain	yogoreru	汚れる	to become dirty
yorokobasu	喜ばす	to delight, give pleasure	yorokobu	喜ぶ	to be glad, pleased
yoseru	寄せる	to let near, approach	yoru	寄る	to approach