🎬 Japanese Verbs: The Image-Based Guide to Intransitive vs Transitive Verbs

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What You’ll Learn:

• 🎥 The “camera angle” trick that makes verb pairs instantly clear
• ⚡ How to visualize energy flow in Japanese sentences
• 🔄 30+ common verb pairs with memorable examples
• 🧠 Why thinking in images beats memorizing grammar rules
• 💬 Cultural nuances of self-happening vs caused actions
• ✍️ How to stop mixing up 開く/開ける, 消える/消す, and more!

Reading Time: 14 minutes
Best For: JLPT N5-N3 learners struggling with verb pairs
Breakthrough Moment: You’ll finally understand why ドアが開く vs ドアを開ける!

😫 Introduction: The Verb Pair Nightmare

Picture this: You’re studying Japanese verbs. Everything’s going great until you hit this:

開く (aku) = to open
開ける (akeru) = to open

Wait… they both mean “to open”?! 😵

Then you see:

• 消える vs 消す (to disappear vs to turn off)
• 始まる vs 始める (to begin vs to start)
• 止まる vs 止める (to stop vs to stop)
• 落ちる vs 落とす (to fall vs to drop)

At this point, most learners think: “Why does Japanese need TWO words for the same thing?! English just has ONE!” 😤

Here’s the truth: They’re NOT the same. They represent completely different ways of looking at the action—like watching a scene from two different camera angles. 🎬

Once you understand this visual difference, these verb pairs will click instantly. No more confusion. No more guessing. Just natural, intuitive understanding.

Let’s dive in! 🚀

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🎬 1. The Core Concept: Two Ways to Film the Same Scene

Imagine you’re filming a movie scene: A door opens.

🎥 Camera Angle #1: Focus on the Door (自動詞 / Intransitive)

Shot: Close-up on the door. It slowly swings open. No person visible.

Narration: “The door opened.”

Japanese: ドアが開いた。 (Doa ga aita.)

Feeling:

• 🌬️ Maybe the wind pushed it
• 👻 Maybe it’s mysterious
• 🏠 Maybe the automatic door sensor triggered it
• Point: We don’t see WHO or WHAT caused it—we just see the door itself changing

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🎥 Camera Angle #2: Focus on the Person (他動詞 / Transitive)

Shot: Person walks up, grabs the handle, pulls the door open.

Narration: “I opened the door.”

Japanese: 私はドアを開けた。 (Watashi wa doa wo aketa.)

Feeling:

• 💪 Clear actor (I did it!)
• 🎯 Intentional action
• 🤲 Energy flows from person → door
• Point: We see WHO caused the change

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💡 The Breakthrough Realization

Intransitive (自動詞) = “Camera on the object” → What happened?
Transitive (他動詞) = “Camera on the actor” → Who did it?

This is how native Japanese speakers think! They’re not memorizing grammar—they’re visualizing the scene. 🧠✨

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⚡ 2. The Energy Flow Principle

Here’s another way to visualize it: Think of verbs as arrows showing energy movement.

🔵 Intransitive Verbs (自動詞): Energy INSIDE the Object

[Object] → (changes internally)

🚪 The door ⚡ → 🚪 (opens by itself)

💡 The light ⚡ → 💡 (turns on automatically)

🎬 The movie ⚡ → 🎬 (starts by itself)

Key image: The thing has built-in energy. It acts on its own.

English equivalent:

• “The door opened” (no one mentioned)
• “The light went on” (by itself)
• “The movie started” (it just began)

Japanese particles:

• が (ga) marks the thing that changes
• は (wa) can also be used for topic

Examples:

電気が付いた。

(Denki ga tsuita.)

The light turned on.

→ Maybe automatic sensor, maybe timer ⏰

車が止まった。

(Kuruma ga tomatta.)

The car stopped.

→ Maybe engine died, maybe driver stopped it (but we’re not saying) 🚗

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🔴 Transitive Verbs (他動詞): Energy FROM Actor → Object

[Actor] → (energy transfer) → [Object changes]

👤 I ⚡ → 🚪 (I open the door)

👤 You ⚡ → 💡 (You turn on the light)

👤 They ⚡ → 🎬 (They start the movie)

Key image: Energy flows from outside the object. Someone/something causes the change.

English equivalent:

• “I opened the door” (I’m the actor!)
• “She turned on the light” (She did it!)
• “They started the movie” (They pressed play!)

Japanese particles:

• を (wo) marks the thing being acted upon
• が (ga) or は (wa) marks the actor

Examples:

私は電気を付けた。

(Watashi wa denki wo tsuketa.)

I turned on the light.

→ Clear actor: ME! 💪

運転手が車を止めた。

(Untenshu ga kuruma wo tometa.)

The driver stopped the car.

→ Clear actor: the driver! 🚗

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🎯 3. The Ultimate Memory Trick: The “YOU” Test

When choosing between verb pairs, ask yourself:

🤔 Question: “Am I (or someone) DOING this action to something?”

✅ YES → Use 他動詞 (transitive)

• YOU are controlling it
• YOU are making it happen
• Energy flows from YOU

❌ NO → Use 自動詞 (intransitive)

• It’s happening on its own
• Nature/circumstances are causing it
• No clear actor

📝 Practice Examples:

Scenario 1: You flip a light switch.

• 🤔 Am I doing this? → YES!
• ✅ Answer: 電気を付ける (denki wo tsukeru)

Scenario 2: The automatic lights in a store turn on when you enter.

• 🤔 Am I doing this? → NO! (They turn on automatically)
• ✅ Answer: 電気が付く (denki ga tsuku)

Scenario 3: You press “play” on Netflix.

• 🤔 Am I doing this? → YES!
• ✅ Answer: 映画を始める (eiga wo hajimeru)

Scenario 4: The movie starts at 7 PM (scheduled time).

• 🤔 Am I doing this? → NO! (It starts by itself/schedule)
• ✅ Answer: 映画が始まる (eiga ga hajimaru)

See the pattern? Once you visualize WHO is doing the action, the choice becomes obvious! 🎯

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📚 4. The Essential 30 Verb Pairs (With Visual Images!)

Let’s learn the most common pairs with memorable visual associations.

🚪 Opening & Closing

Intransitive (自動詞)	Image	Transitive (他動詞)	Image
開く (aku) – opens	🚪⚡ Door swings open (wind?)	開ける (akeru) – to open	🤲🚪 Hand opens door
閉まる (shimaru) – closes	🚪⚡ Door closes (spring?)	閉める (shimeru) – to close	🤲🚪 Hand closes door

Memory trick:

• 自動詞 ends in -u → あく (like “automatic!”)
• 他動詞 ends in -eru → あける (like “I’m acting!”)

Examples:

自動詞: ドアが自動で開いた。

       (The door opened automatically.)

他動詞: 私がドアを開けた。

       (I opened the door.)

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💡 Lights & Power

Intransitive	Image	Transitive	Image
付く (tsuku) – turns on	💡⚡ Light glows on	付ける (tsukeru) – to turn on	👆💡 Finger flips switch
消える (kieru) – goes off	💡🌑 Light fades out	消す (kesu) – to turn off	👆💡 Finger switches off

Examples:

自動詞: 突然電気が消えた。

       (The power suddenly went out.)

       → No one did it—power failure! ⚡

他動詞: 寝る前に電気を消した。

       (I turned off the light before sleeping.)

       → I did it intentionally! 😴

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🎬 Starting & Stopping

Intransitive	Image	Transitive	Image
始まる (hajimaru) – begins	🎬⚡ Movie starts rolling	始める (hajimeru) – to start	👤▶️ Person presses play
終わる (owaru) – ends	🎬⚡ Credits roll	終える (oeru) – to finish	👤⏸️ Person completes task
止まる (tomaru) – stops	🚗⚡ Car stops moving	止める (tomeru) – to stop	👤🚗 Driver hits brakes

Examples:

自動詞: 授業が9時に始まる。

       (Class begins at 9 o’clock.)

       → It’s scheduled—happens automatically! 📅

他動詞: 先生が授業を始める。

       (The teacher starts the class.)

       → Teacher is the actor! 👨‍🏫

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📉 Falling & Dropping

Intransitive	Image	Transitive	Image
落ちる (ochiru) – falls	🍎⬇️ Apple falls from tree	落とす (otosu) – to drop	🤲🍎 Hand drops apple
倒れる (taoreru) – collapses	🌳💨 Tree falls over	倒す (taosu) – to knock down	💪🌳 Person chops tree

Examples:

自動詞: リンゴが木から落ちた。

       (The apple fell from the tree.)

       → Gravity did it! 🍎

他動詞: 私はグラスを落としてしまった。

       (I dropped the glass.)

       → Oops, I did it! 😱

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💔 Breaking & Fixing

Intransitive	Image	Transitive	Image
壊れる (kowareru) – breaks	📱💥 Phone cracks	壊す (kowasu) – to break	🔨📱 Hammer smashes phone
直る (naoru) – gets fixed	📱✨ Phone repairs itself	直す (naosu) – to fix	🔧📱 Person repairs phone
割れる (wareru) – cracks/shatters	🪟💥 Window shatters	割る (waru) – to crack	⚾🪟 Ball breaks window

Examples:

自動詞: 携帯が壊れた。

       (My phone broke.)

       → It just broke—maybe dropped, maybe manufacturing defect 📱💔

他動詞: 弟が私の携帯を壊した。

       (My little brother broke my phone.)

       → HE DID IT! 😡 Clear blame!

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🔗 Connecting & Attaching

Intransitive	Image	Transitive	Image
繋がる (tsunagaru) – connects	📡⚡ Devices link up	繋ぐ (tsunagu) – to connect	🔌📡 Person plugs in
付く (tsuku) – attaches	🧲⚡ Magnet sticks	付ける (tsukeru) – to attach	🤲🧲 Hand sticks magnet

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🌡️ Temperature & State Changes

Intransitive	Image	Transitive	Image
温まる (atatamaru) – warms up	☕⚡ Coffee gets warm	温める (atatameru) – to warm	🔥☕ Heat warms coffee
冷える (hieru) – cools down	🧊⚡ Ice cream melts	冷やす (hiyasu) – to cool	🧊🥤 Put in freezer
乾く (kawaku) – dries	👕⚡ Clothes dry	乾かす (kawakasu) – to dry	🌬️👕 Dryer dries clothes

Examples:

自動詞: 洗濯物が乾いた。

       (The laundry dried.)

       → Sun and air did the work! ☀️

他動詞: ドライヤーで髪を乾かした。

       (I dried my hair with a dryer.)

       → I used the dryer! 💇

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🔀 Changing & Gathering

Intransitive	Image	Transitive	Image
変わる (kawaru) – changes	🦋⚡ Caterpillar → butterfly	変える (kaeru) – to change	🎨🖼️ Person repaints room
集まる (atsumaru) – gathers	👥⚡ People gather	集める (atsumeru) – to gather	📣👥 Person calls people together
並ぶ (narabu) – lines up	👥⚡ Line forms	並べる (naraberu) – to line up	🤲👥 Person arranges people

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💰 Money & Value

Intransitive	Image	Transitive	Image
上がる (agaru) – goes up	📈⚡ Prices rise	上げる (ageru) – to raise	💼📈 Boss raises prices
下がる (sagaru) – goes down	📉⚡ Temperature drops	下げる (sageru) – to lower	🌡️📉 Person lowers heat

Examples:

自動詞: 給料が上がった！

       (My salary went up!)

       → Yay! Market forces or policy! 💰

他動詞: 会社が給料を上げた。

       (The company raised salaries.)

       → Company actively decided! 💼

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🎭 5. Cultural Nuance: Why Japanese Has This System

🌸 The Japanese Cultural Mindset

Japanese culture values:

• 🤝 Harmony (和 / wa) – Not assigning blame
• 🙏 Humility – Not taking too much credit
• 🌊 Natural flow – Letting things happen
• 💚 Indirect communication – Softening statements

Intransitive verbs support this!

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😊 Using 自動詞 = Softer, Less Direct

Situation: You want to end a meeting.

Direct (他動詞):

会議を終えましょう。

(Let’s finish the meeting.)

→ Strong, commanding tone 💼

Softer (自動詞):

会議が終わりました。

(The meeting has ended.)

→ Gentler, “it happened naturally” ☕

Why softer? Because you’re not forcing the end—you’re acknowledging it ended!

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😬 Using 自動詞 = Avoiding Blame

Situation: You broke your friend’s mug.

Taking responsibility (他動詞):

ごめん、マグカップを壊しちゃった。

(Sorry, I broke your mug.)

→ Clear admission of fault! 😰

Softening blame (自動詞):

あ、マグカップが壊れちゃった…

(Oh, the mug broke…)

→ Less direct blame (but still somewhat responsible) 😅

⚠️ Warning: Overusing 自動詞 to avoid responsibility can seem immature or dishonest! Use wisely!

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💼 Business Japanese: Subtle Differences Matter

報告 (houkoku / reporting) in meetings:

Pattern 1: Things happened (自動詞)

プロジェクトが終わりました。

(The project ended/finished.)

→ Neutral, factual, no boasting 📊

Pattern 2: We made it happen (他動詞)

プロジェクトを終えました。

(We completed the project.)

→ Takes credit, shows achievement! 🏆

When to use which:

• Good news: 他動詞 (show your team’s effort!)
• Bad news: 自動詞 (soften the blow)
• Neutral updates: Either works

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🧠 6. How to Learn Verb Pairs Efficiently (Not Just Memorize!)

❌ DON’T Learn Like This:

開く = to open

開ける = to open

消える = to disappear

消す = to erase

始まる = to begin

始める = to start

…

Problem: You’re treating them as separate random words! Your brain can’t find the pattern! 🤯

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✅ DO Learn Like This:

Step 1: Learn as PAIRS (Always Together!)

開く ←→ 開ける

(Door opens) ←→ (I open door)

消える ←→ 消す

(Light goes out) ←→ (I turn off light)

Why this works: Your brain connects them as two sides of the same coin! 🪙

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Step 2: Create TWO Example Sentences

For EVERY verb pair, write:

• One 自動詞 sentence
• One 他動詞 sentence

Example:

自動詞: 電気が消えた。(The light went out.)

他動詞: 電気を消した。(I turned off the light.)

Practice switching between them!

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Step 3: Use Physical Gestures 🤸

自動詞 gesture:

• Hands open naturally, palms up
• Like “it happened!” 🤷
• Passive, receiving energy

他動詞 gesture:

• Hands push, pull, grab
• Active doing motion 💪
• Giving energy

Why this works: Muscle memory reinforces mental memory! Your body helps your brain! 🧠💪

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Step 4: Visualize the Scene (Like a Movie! 🎬

Before speaking, take 0.5 seconds to imagine the scene:

Question: “Did the door open or did I open it?”

Visualize:

• 🎥 See the door opening by itself? → 開く
• 🎥 See yourself pulling the handle? → 開ける

Practice this until it becomes automatic!

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Step 5: Practice with Real-Life Situations 🏠

Around your Vancouver apartment/house:

Walk around and narrate:

窓が開いている。(The window is open.) [state]

窓を開けよう。(Let me open the window.) [action!]

電気が付いている。(The light is on.) [state]

電気を消そう。(Let me turn off the light.) [action!]

ドアが閉まった。(The door closed.) [it happened]

ドアを閉めた。(I closed the door.) [I did it]

Do this daily for 5 minutes = massive improvement! 📈

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🎯 7. Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

❌ Mistake #1: Using を with Intransitive Verbs

Wrong:

❌ 電気を消えた。

   (Denki wo kieta.)

Why wrong: 消える is intransitive → can’t take を!

Right:

✅ 電気が消えた。

   (Denki ga kieta.)

   The light went out.

Memory trick: を = someone did it! If no one did it, use が!

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❌ Mistake #2: Using が with Transitive Verbs

Wrong:

❌ 私は電気が消した。

   (Watashi wa denki ga keshita.)

Why wrong: 消す is transitive → needs を to show what you’re acting on!

Right:

✅ 私は電気を消した。

   (Watashi wa denki wo keshita.)

   I turned off the light.

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❌ Mistake #3: Mixing Up Similar Pairs

Common confusion:

始まる (hajimaru) vs 終わる (owaru)

→ Both are intransitive, but opposite meanings!

始める (hajimeru) vs 終える (oeru) or 終わらせる (owaraseru)

→ Both are transitive!

Fix: Always learn beginning/ending pairs together:

始まる → 始める (start)

終わる → 終える/終わらせる (end)

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❌ Mistake #4: Overusing Transitive When Natural Japanese Uses Intransitive

English speaker tendency:

“I broke my phone” → ❌ 携帯を壊した

More natural Japanese:

✅ 携帯が壊れちゃった。

   (My phone broke.)

   → Softer, less blaming yourself!

When describing accidents to yourself or bad news, Japanese often prefers 自動詞! 🇯🇵

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🎓 8. Advanced: Causative Forms (Making Things Happen)

Once you master basic pairs, you’ll encounter causative forms (させる):

The Causative Pattern

Intransitive verb + させる = Make something happen

止まる (tomaru – stops) → 止まらせる (tomaraseru – make it stop)

Example:

車を止まらせた。

(I made the car stop / I stopped the car.)

→ Even more forceful than 止める!

When to use:

• 💪 Emphasis on force or causing
• 💼 Formal/business contexts
• 🎯 When regular transitive isn’t strong enough

For beginners: Focus on basic pairs first! Causative is JLPT N3+ level! 📚

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💡 9. The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

Quick Decision Tree

┌─ Am I (or someone) DOING this action?

│

├─ YES → 他動詞 (Transitive)

│   └─ Use を particle

│   └─ Example: ドアを開ける

│

└─ NO → 自動詞 (Intransitive)

    └─ Use が particle  

    └─ Example: ドアが開く

Particle Quick Reference

Verb Type	Particle	Focus	Example
自動詞 (Intransitive)	が	What happened	電気が消えた
他動詞 (Transitive)	を	What you acted on	電気を消した

Ending Patterns (Helpful but Not 100% Reliable!)

Intransitive Ending	Transitive Ending	Example Pair
-u	-eru	開く → 開ける
-areru	-asu	壊れる → 壊す
-eru	-asu	消える → 消す
-aru	-eru	始まる → 始める
-aru	-u	集まる → 集める

⚠️ Warning: Patterns help, but many exceptions exist! Always learn pairs together, not endings alone!

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🌟 Conclusion: Think Like a Japanese Speaker

You’ve learned the secret: Japanese intransitive and transitive verbs aren’t about grammar—they’re about PERSPECTIVE. 🎬

The Native Speaker’s Mind:

1. 🎥 Picture the scene
2. ⚡ Feel the energy flow
3. 🎯 Choose the verb that matches the image

Your New Approach:

• ❌ Stop memorizing rules
• ✅ Start visualizing scenes
• 🎬 Think: “Camera on object or camera on actor?”
• ⚡ Think: “Energy inside or energy from outside?”

With practice, this becomes INSTANT—just like native speakers! ✨

Next time you see a door open, think: “ドアが開いた or ドアを開けた?”

And smile, because now you know exactly how to choose. 😊🚪

🎓 Bonus: Advanced Patterns & Exceptions

The Spontaneous Potential (自発)

Some intransitive verbs express spontaneous feelings:

思い出される (omoidasareru) – to be remembered (spontaneously)

思い出す (omoidasu) – to remember (intentionally)

Usage:

昔のことが思い出される。

(Old memories come back spontaneously.)

→ You’re not trying—they just surface! 🌊

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The する Exception

する (suru) verbs can be tricky:

心配する (shinpai suru) – to worry (intransitive-ish!)

“心配します” vs “心配させる” (make someone worry)

勉強する (benkyou suru) – to study (transitive-ish!)

“数学を勉強する”

Rule: Most する verbs act like transitive but with unique particle patterns! 📚

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Verbs That Changed Meaning Over Time

着る (kiru) – to wear

• Modern: Transitive (服を着る)
• Classical: Could be intransitive!

Language evolves! Some historical uses might seem inconsistent. 🕰

️

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✅ Your 30-Day Mastery Plan

Week 1: Foundation 🏗️

• [ ] Learn the “camera angle” concept
• [ ] Master 5 essential pairs (開く/開ける, 消える/消す, etc.)
• [ ] Practice particle usage (が vs を)
• [ ] Narrate daily actions at home (5 min/day)

Week 2: Expansion 📈

• [ ] Learn 10 more verb pairs
• [ ] Create visual flashcards
• [ ] Practice physical gestures
• [ ] Write 10 sentence pairs

Week 3: Application 💬

• [ ] Use verb pairs in conversation (language exchange)
• [ ] Watch Japanese content, note verb usage
• [ ] Correct your own mistakes consciously
• [ ] Join online discussion using these verbs

Week 4: Mastery ✨

• [ ] Can explain concept to another learner
• [ ] Automatic usage in speech (no thinking!)
• [ ] Understand cultural nuances
• [ ] Can use 20-30 pairs naturally

After 30 days: You’ll understand verb pairs better than many learners who’ve studied for YEARS! 🎯

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🌟 Final Thoughts: Your Linguistic Superpower

Congratulations! You now understand one of Japanese’s most challenging concepts! 🎉

What you’ve gained:

• 🎬 Visual thinking that matches native speakers
• ⚡ Energy awareness in language
• 🎯 Intuitive verb choice (not just memorization)
• 🇯🇵 Cultural insight into Japanese communication
• 💪 Confidence in using complex verbs

Remember:

• 🎥 Always visualize the scene first
• ⚡ Feel where the energy flows
• 🤝 Understand cultural preferences (soft vs direct)
• 📚 Practice daily with real situations
• 😊 Mistakes are temporary—mastery is coming!

Next time you encounter a verb pair, you won’t panic. You’ll:

1. Picture the scene 🎬
2. Feel the energy ⚡
3. Choose naturally 🎯
4. Speak confidently 💬

That’s the power of image-based learning! ✨

🎁 Downloadable Resources

📄 Printable Cheat Sheets (Copy & Save!):

Quick Reference Card

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INTRANSITIVE (自動詞) – It happens

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• Particle: が

• Focus: The object/thing

• Energy: Inside the object

• Examples: 開く, 消える, 始まる

• Feeling: Soft, natural, passive

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TRANSITIVE (他動詞) – I make it happen

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• Particle: を

• Focus: The actor/doer

• Energy: Actor → object

• Examples: 開ける, 消す, 始める

• Feeling: Active, controlled

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THE “YOU” TEST

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Q: Am I (or someone) DOING this?

YES → 他動詞 (を)

NO → 自動詞 (が)

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Practice Sentence Templates

TEMPLATE 1: Daily Actions

自動詞: ___が___[verb]

他動詞: 私は___を___[verb]

TEMPLATE 2: Describing Changes

自動詞: ___が___[verb]ている

他動詞: ___さんが___を___[verb]た

TEMPLATE 3: Asking Questions

自動詞: ___が___[verb]ましたか？

他動詞: ___を___[verb]ましたか？

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Top 30 Essential Pairs Checklist

□ 開く / 開ける (open)

□ 閉まる / 閉める (close)

□ 付く / 付ける (turn on/attach)

□ 消える / 消す (turn off)

□ 始まる / 始める (begin/start)

□ 終わる / 終える (end/finish)

□ 止まる / 止める (stop)

□ 落ちる / 落とす (fall/drop)

□ 壊れる / 壊す (break)

□ 割れる / 割る (crack/split)

□ 直る / 直す (be fixed/fix)

□ 入る / 入れる (enter/put in)

□ 出る / 出す (exit/take out)

□ 上がる / 上げる (go up/raise)

□ 下がる / 下げる (go down/lower)

□ 変わる / 変える (change)

□ 集まる / 集める (gather)

□ 並ぶ / 並べる (line up)

□ 温まる / 温める (warm up)

□ 冷える / 冷やす (cool down)

□ 乾く / 乾かす (dry)

□ 濡れる / 濡らす (get wet)

□ 汚れる / 汚す (get dirty)

□ 曲がる / 曲げる (bend/turn)

□ 倒れる / 倒す (collapse/knock down)

□ 溶ける / 溶かす (melt/dissolve)

□ 増える / 増やす (increase)

□ 減る / 減らす (decrease)

□ 決まる / 決める (be decided/decide)

□ 続く / 続ける (continue)

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🎊 You made it to the end! Give yourself a pat on the back! 🎊

Now go forth and use those verb pairs with confidence! 💪✨

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Last Updated: November 2025
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada 🇨🇦
Author: NihongoKnow.com Team

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🙏 がんばってください！Good luck with your Japanese journey!

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P.S. Remember: Every Japanese native speaker had to learn this too! You’re not alone, and you CAN master this! 🌸✨