他動詞(たどうし)・自動詞(じどうし)Done through action vs. occurring on its own

する and なる can also be thought of as a transitive-intransitive pair

Structure

Transitive・Intransitive

を落(お)とす・が落(お)ちる
To drop・To fall

をつける・がつく
To attach・To be attached

を見(み)つける・が見(み)つかる
To find・To be found

を下(さ)げる・が下(さ)がる
To lower・To be lowered

Details

About 他動詞・自動詞

The two most fundamental divisions that can be made with Japanese verbs are transitive verbs - the subject is moving/acting upon something else, and intransitive verbs - the subject themself is moving/acting. Sometimes these terms are simplified even further to 'other-move' (transitive), and 'self-move' (intransitive).

Basically, this is the difference between verbs that require an object marked with を (transitive verbs), and those that only require が, to show that the subject itself is moving (intransitive).

In Japanese, there are many transitive/intransitive pairs of verbs, and these will need to be memorized.

Fun Fact

In Japanese, the two ways in which all verbs can be described are an act/motion (動作(どうさ)), and an act/motion upon something (作用(さよう)).

Fun Fact

Although they are not traditionally grouped this way, する and なる may also be thought of as a transitive/intransitive pair. This is due to する always implying that something is being controlled (acted upon), while なる always implies that something happens on its own, or cannot be controlled.

来年(らいねん)からアメリカに住(す)むことにした。

From next year I am going to live in America. (I have decided to live in America starting next year)
来年(らいねん)からアメリカに住(す)むことになる。

From next year I am going to live in America. (I will be living in America starting next year due to work/school/family matters beyond my direct control)

Examples

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虫(むし)を集(あつ)めた・虫(むし)が集(あつ)まった

I gathered bugs. The bugs gathered.

探(さが)していたカバンを見(み)つけた。

I found the bag that I had been looking for.

犯人(はんにん)が見(み)つかった。

The criminal has been found.

ケーキの上(うえ)に乗(の)っていたロウソクを消(け)した。

I blew out (extinguished) the candles on the cake.

台所(だいどころ)のライトが消(き)えた。

The light in the kitchen went out.

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他動詞・自動詞 – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (26 in total)

nekoyama
With 見つける the thing that is found would be the object marked with を, so that’s why the が points at 見つかる where the subject is what’s found (and there is no object).

But you have the English translation off in the screenshot. I guess without that information, it is actually ambiguous after all. The が only helps if you know that the 犯人 is supposed to be what’s being caught (found).
amborella
I read through this thread to try and understand the best way to go about studying this grammar point, and I’m not sure if it was reverted back to its previous state but I’m struggling with it! I think I understand the concept of transitive and intransitive verbs - and I’ve been studying vocabulary with them - but having just learned and started to review this point, it keeps presenting me with questions that seem much more vocabulary focused. I can understand the concept of a transitive/intransitive verb and the particles used (as well as a beginner can lol) but it seems like if I don’t have the proper vocabulary, I’m going to keep failing this point over and over? I’m not sure if I’m misunderstanding or something, but I’d love to know the best way to study for this one!
homa
I guess I’ll just mark this one as mastered. I don’t even know the transitive version of all these verbs. As I understood there are no clear patterns, the concept was understood when I saw 変える and 変わる in an anki deck so I don’t think there will be any problems understanding input and learning new words.