Intransitive & Transitive Verbs

JLPT N4 Japanese self-study　·　~15 min　·　Opens on its own vs someone opens it

'The door opened' vs 'I opened the door.' In Japanese, this isn't just vocabulary — it's a different verb entirely. Mastering these pairs is essential for natural Japanese.

What you'll learn

• Intransitive (自動詞): ~ が + verb (natural change)
• Transitive (他動詞): ~ を + verb (intentional action)
• Key pairs: 開く/開ける, 消える/消す, 割れる/割る, 始まる/始める

How to study “Intransitive & Transitive Verbs”

“Intransitive & Transitive Verbs” (Opens on its own vs someone opens it) is a JLPT N4 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 15 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.