Intransitive & Transitive: Part II
In this second lesson on verbs with both intransitive and transitive usages, we’ll continue to uncover peculiarities in Japanese at the individual word basis.
巻く, 運ぶ, 吹く, 催す, 結ぶ, & 頼る
巻く
巻く can be used to “to wind/coil/etc.” as an intransitive or a transitive verb. Its intransitive usage is not that common, and it is usually rephrased out of the sentence, often with 巻き付く.
1. 思いがけないほど渦（が）巻いている。
The whirlpool is swirling beyond expectation.
It is whirling beyond expectation. (Without が).
2. 上空の雲が渦（を）巻いている。
The clouds in the sky above are swirling in a whirlpool.
3. 薬を塗って包帯を巻いてください。
Please apply the medicine and wind a bandage (around the wound).
4. くるりと巻いた針のような長い口が特徴です。
It’s long and completely wrapped up mouth, which is akin to a needle, is its trait.
5. 蛇がとぐろを巻いている。
The snake has coiled itself up.
Spelling Note: とぐろmay also be spelled as 蜷局.
6. 細いツルが巻（き付）いている。
The slender vines are twined around.
Spelling Note: ツル may also be spelled as 蔓.
7. 城が白い煙に｛包まれている・囲まれている・巻かれている｝。
The castle is enveloped by white smoke.
蒔く, 播く, & 撒く
There are three more まく that need to be addressed. All three are solely transitive verbs.
蒔く: Used to mean “to plant/sow/seed.”
播く: Interchangeable with 蒔く.
撒く: Used to mean “to scatter.” It may also be used in a figurative sense such as in “to spread (rumors).”
8. 野菜の種を｛蒔・播いた｝のに、芽が出ません。
Even though I’ve sowed the vegetable seeds, they haven’t sprouted.
9. ベランダや玄関先だけに豆を撒いたとしても、きちんと回収することは必要です。
Even if you’ve only scattered beans on your veranda and at your front door, it is necessary that you properly retrieve them.
Cultural Note: This is a reference to cleanup efforts after having scattered beans as part of commemorating 節分 (the last day of winter in the traditional Japanese calendar).
10. 悪い噂を撒き散らしている人も、あまり信用されていないんでしょう。
The people spreading awful rumors are also likely not all that trusted either.
11. うちの猫はほぼ毎日、遊びでトイレ（の）砂を撒き散らしてしまいます。
My cat scatters the sand in its litter box out of play almost every day.
運ぶ
As an intransitive verb, 運ぶ means “to proceed/to go (well),” but it is far more commonly used as a transitive verb to mean “to carry/transport.”
12. 植物の多くは、種を作るために花粉を風で運ばなければなりません。
A lot of plants must carry their pollen via the wind to create their seeds.
13. 物事がうまく｛いっている・運んでいる｝ときにも油断（を）してはいけない。
You also mustn’t be careless when things are going well.
14. 成果が出ているからといって、人生がうまく｛いっている・運んでいる｝とは限らない。
Just because one is making results, it isn’t necessarily the case that life is going well.
15. 全てがうまく｛いっている・運んでいる｝わけではありませんが、大きな失敗もしていません。
It’s not the case that everything is going well, but I’m also not making any great failures.
As the following example sentence demonstrates, 運ぶ can also be used to mean “to carry out.” However, the verb 進める is far more common in this regard.
16. 対等に交渉を｛進める・運ぶ｝ことは困難です。
Carrying out negotiations equally is difficult.
17. 本日の作業をもちまして一旦中断の運びとさせていただきます。
We will temporarily suspend progress as of today’s work.
Grammar Note: As a noun, 運び far more frequently is used to mean “progress” than its verbal form 運ぶ.
Fuku 吹く
The verb 吹く can be used as both an intransitive and a transitive verb, but as a transitive verb, it is rather restricted. For one, the subject never acts out of its own volition. This is just like what was the case with ひらく and the meaning “to bloom.”
18. 部屋の隅から微風が吹いてきた。
A breeze blew in from the corner of the room.
Reading Note: In literature, 微風 may seldom be read as びふう.
19. 夜に口笛を吹いてはいけない。
You mustn’t whistle at night.
20. カモメは、海から吹く上昇気流に乗って飛びます。
Seagulls fly by riding the updrafts that blow from the sea.
Spelling Note: カモメ may also be spelled as 鴎・鷗. The former variant is an unofficial abbreviation that has become widely used.
When used to mean “to bud,” 吹くcan never be used in the passive. This is largely due to the absence of volition plants have in budding. It’s also important to note that the verb芽吹く, which has 吹く in it, typically replaces 吹く for this nuance.
21a. 木々が芽を吹き始めた。
21b. 木々が芽吹き始めた。
21c. 芽が木々によって吹かれた。X
The trees have begun to bud.
22. 突然、鍋が噴き零れて、熱湯が足に掛かって火傷をしてしまいました。
Suddenly, the stew boiled over and my leg got burned by boiling water.
Word Note: Just as in English, a pot for stew can be used to refer to the stew itself.
There are two other verbs that are also ふく. Both are purely transitive and do not have the same grammatical constraints as 吹く・噴く above.
23. 手を濡らしたハンカチで拭く。
To wipe one’s hand(s) with a wettened handkerchief.
24. 犬が顔を拭かれて怒ってしまった。
The dog got angry from having its face wiped.
25. 瓦で屋根を葺きました。
I thatched the roof with tile.
26. 草で葺かれた部分が吹き飛ばされた。
The parts thatched with grass were blown off.
催す
When you open up a dictionary, the first meaning of 催す that you will find is “to hold (a ceremony).” However, instances like 宴を催す (to hold a banquet) are rare and literary. Although the verb itself is usually only used in the written language, its most important meaning is “to feel (a physical sensation).” In that sense, it can be used as either an intransitive or a transitive verb, and although が and を appear seemingly interchangeable, the use of が is disappearing.
27. 少し眠気｛が・を｝催してから、安定剤を飲む。
To take a stabilizer after showing signs of some drowsiness.
28. ビールで尿意｛が・を｝催すのはアルコールに利尿作用があるためです。
Having the urge to urinate from bear is due to the diuretic effect of alcohol.
29. 意識が朦朧とし、吐き気｛が・を｝催す。
To feel nauseated while in a hazy state.
30. 浣腸（を）して便意｛が・を｝催す。
To feel a bowel movement from taking an enema.
結ぶ
結ぶ is usually used as a transitive verb meaning “to tie/link.” As an intransitive verb, it can be used to mean “to bear (fruit)” or for dew to coagulate, but other verbs typically replace it.
31. 草の葉に露が｛付いている・付着している・結んでいる｝。
Dew has attached/condensed onto the grass leaves.
32. 努力が｛実を結ぶ・実る｝と信じている。
I believe our efforts will bear fruit.
33. 努力の実が結ぶことを願っています。
I wish that the fruits of our efforts will manifest.
34. マカオと香港（と）を結ぶ橋の工事が進んでいる。
Construction on a bridge connecting Macao and Hong Kong is making progress.
Spelling Note: Traditionally, マカオis spelled as 澳門.
35. 条約を｛結ぶ・締結する｝ことに成功する。
To succeed in entering a treaty.
頼る
The verb 頼る has three different nuances depending on how it is used.
・In “(X を) Yに頼る,” it shows dependency meaning “to rely on Y (for X).”
・In “Yを頼る,” it shows from whom/what you get help from. Essentially, you are purposely using connections.
・In “Yを頼りにする,” it shows with whom/what one depends on out of trust.
36. 日本が今、１００パーセント輸入に頼っている食べ物ってなんですか？
What foods does Japan now 100% rely on imports for?
37. 医者と薬に頼るのを止めませんか。
Why not stop relying upon doctors and medicine?
38. スマホに頼ると、集中力が落ちる。
If you rely on your smart phone, your concentration will drop.
39. 需要予測に頼りすぎるべきではない。
You mustn’t over-rely on demand forecasts.
40. 経済を資源の輸出に頼る国が多くあります。
There are many countries who rely on the importing of resources for their economies.
41. 飼料として使われる穀物の多くを海外からの輸入に頼っている。
We rely on the imports from foreign countries for a lot of the grain that is used for feed.
42. 使用量のほとんどを中国に頼っている。
We’re relying on China for most of the amount used, has no choice but to accept.
43. 知人を頼って渡米しました。
I relied on an acquaintance to travel to America.
44. 一度地図を頼って行ってみました。
I tried going once by depending on a map.
45. 伝手を頼ってソマリアの海賊たちに会いに行きました。
I used connections to go meet the Somalian pirates.
46. 皆さんは何を頼りに生きていらっしゃいますか。
What does everyone rely on to live?
47. 地図を頼りに最寄りの駅に向かいました。
I headed toward the nearest train station, relying on a map.
48. いくら結婚できなくても婚活ビジネスを頼るのはやめた方がいい。
No matter how much trouble you have in getting married, it’s better to stop relying on marriage hunting businesses.
49. 名医を頼って病院を選ぶという人は少なくありません。There are far from few individuals who chose hospitals by recoursing to noted physicians.
50. 現在親を頼って生活しています。
Currently, I am living by relying on my parents.