The Differences Between Intransitive Verbs And Transitive Verbs In Japanese

Verbs are the core of Japanese grammar and play a decisive role in the Japanese sentences. Therefore, the study of Japanese verbs is very essential to the study of Japanese grammar.From the perspectives of meaning and usage, verbs in Japanese can be categorized into intransitive verbs and transitive verbs according to whether they require an object. Yet grammarians hold different views on the value of such categorization. A great number of intransitive verbs and transitive verbs which are corresponding in form and meaning exist in Japanese and they are closely related to other grammatical categories such as tense, aspect and voice. As a result, the author believes that it is valuable to go deep in the study of verbs.This paper focuses on the study of native Japanese verbs in relation to aspect and voice. By comparing and contrast their usage in sentences with verbal predicate, the author sums up the features of intransitive and transitive verb systems with the purpose of deepening the readers' understanding of intransitive and transitive verbs and helping readers distinguish them correctly.Based on aspect in Japanese, Kindaichiharuhiko categorized Japanese verbs into stative verbs, durational verbs, non-durational verbs and verbs with stative qualities . Comparison between these four categories of verbs and intransitive and transitive verbs shows that most of durational verbs are transitive verbs while non-durational verbs are usually intransitive verbs. And almost all stative verbs and verbs with stative tendencies are intransitive verbs. Meanwhile, if volition being taken into consideration, most transitive verbs are volitional and intransitive verbs are not.The study of intransitive and transitive verbs corresponding in form and meaning shows that transitive verbs indicate action or function while intransitive verbs express the result of this action or function. Moreover, the action indicated in transitive verbs and the state expressed in intransitive verbs also correspond in sentences.The author thinks that for intransitive and transitive verbs lacking of...