Japanese Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

開ける　

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to open" something, such as a door or a window.

開く

閉める

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to close" something, like a door or a window.

閉まる

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to be closed" or "to close" by itself, such as a door or window.

落ちる

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to fall" or "to drop" by itself, such as an object falling from a height.

落とす

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to drop" or "to let fall" something, such as a ball or an object.

よごれる

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to become dirty" or "to get stained," typically referring to something that soils itself without direct action.

よごす

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to make dirty" or "to soil" something, indicating direct action on the object.

点く

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to turn on" or "to be lit," typically referring to a light, appliance, or fire turning on by itself or without a direct agent.

つける

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to turn on" something, such as a light, an appliance, or a television, indicating direct action by a person.

消える

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to disappear," "to vanish," or "to turn off" by itself (e.g., a light).

消す

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to extinguish," "to turn off" (e.g., a light, TV), or "to erase" something.

こわれる

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to break" or "to be broken" by itself, such as a machine or an object

こわす

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to break," "to destroy," or "to put out of order" something, indicating direct action.

われる

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to break," "to crack," or "to shatter" by itself, typically referring to fragile objects like glass or pottery.

わる

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to break," "to crack," or "to smash" something fragile, indicating direct action.

かぎがかかる

an intransitive verb phrase in Japanese meaning "to be locked" or "to be fastened by a key," referring to a door or lock status.

かぎをかける

transitive verb phrase in Japanese meaning "to lock" or "to fasten with a key" something, such as a door, indicating direct action by a person.

つながる

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to connect," "to be linked," or "to be joined," referring to things coming together or being in communication automatically or by circumstance.

つなげる

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to connect," "to link," or "to join" something, indicating a deliberate action of making a connection.

お湯がわく

an intransitive verb phrase in Japanese meaning "water boils" or "hot water becomes ready" by itself.

お湯をわかす

a transitive verb phrase in Japanese meaning "to boil water" or "to make hot water," indicating direct action

水が出る

an intransitive verb phrase in Japanese meaning "water comes out" or "water flows," referring to water flowing from a tap or source by itself.

水を出す

a transitive verb phrase in Japanese meaning "to let out water" or "to pour water," indicating direct action, such as turning on a tap.

入る

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to enter," "to go in," or "to fit in," referring to someone or something going into a place or container

入れる

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to put in," "to insert," or "to let in," indicating direct action of placing something inside, or allowing someone to enter.

止まる

an intransitive verb in Japanese meaning "to stop" or "to halt" by itself, such as a car stopping or a clock stopping.

止める

a transitive verb in Japanese meaning "to stop" or "to halt" something (e.g., a car, a clock), "to turn off" (e.g., an engine), or "to fasten/park" something, indicating direct action.