Transitive and intransitive pairs

Core meaning and form

Learn lexical pairs such as 開ける/開く, 始める/始まる, and 壊す/壊れる with their particle frames. Japanese often chooses the intransitive member when the result matters more than responsibility.

• Form: Learn lexical pairs such as 開ける/開く, 始める/始まる, and 壊す/壊れる with their particle frames.
• Core use: Transitive verbs profile an agent acting on an object; intransitive verbs profile a change or state without expressing that agent.
• Context: Japanese often chooses the intransitive member when the result matters more than responsibility.

Examples in context

Common errors

• Do not select this pattern from an English translation alone; check its attachment and discourse function.
• Keep the surrounding sentence in a consistent plain, polite, spoken, or written register.

Quick summary

• Learn lexical pairs such as 開ける/開く, 始める/始まる, and 壊す/壊れる with their particle frames.
• Transitive verbs profile an agent acting on an object; intransitive verbs profile a change or state without expressing that agent.
• Japanese often chooses the intransitive member when the result matters more than responsibility.