Intransitive & Transitive: Part V (Sino-Japanese Verbs)
In our fifth installment on verbs that do not change based on whether it is used as an intransitive or a transitive verb, we will focus on Sino-Japanese examples.
There are plenty of verbs from Chinese that can be used either in an intransitive sense or a transitive sense because there is no morphological distinction made in Chinese. Therefore, the lack of marking transitivity found in Chinese simply carries over into Japanese. Japanese then compensates by using its backup system of particles, if you will, to help the speaker determine how the verb should be interpreted.
This, as one might imagine, does cause issues. As you will soon see in the example sentences, many speakers frequently change する to される or to させる depending on whether they wish to make it clear that the Sino-Japanese verb in question is being used in an intransitive or transitive sense respectively. This causes grammatical ambiguity, understandably, because される and させる stand for the passive and causative forms respectively.
Before you go on thinking that Japanese is being overly complicated, think about English for one moment. English is just as guilty as Chinese for not marking transitivity in verbal conjugations.
i. I started the movie three minutes ago.
ii. The movie started three minutes ago.
If English does a poor job in marking transitivity, and if it’s the case that Japanese has borrowed many words from English, one might also assume that Sino-Japanese verbs are not the only foreign verbs that have this transitivity problem.
iii. 事務処理能力をアップすることで、仕事のすべての能力がアップするのですから、効率化をアップさせましょう。
By raising one’s clerical work capacity, all your job skills will improve, so try upping your efficiency.
This example marvelously demonstrates the flux in transitivity that you will find with the verbs discussed in this lesson. Now, to learn as many of these verbs as possible, each Sino-Japanese verb taught will have a minimum of two sentences to account for its intransitive and transitive use. If nuance requires further investigation, more example sentences will be provided.
Common Dual Purpose Sino-Japanese Verbs
・変形する – To transform/metamorphize/deform
変形する is used both in the spoken and written language. Its intransitive and transitive usages are both very common.
1. 式を変形する問題です。
This problem is about transforming an equation.
2. 軟骨が増殖したり、骨が軟化したりするこことで、関節が変形していきます。
Joints become deformed by cartilage increasing, bones softening, etc.
・分解する – To disassemble/dismantle/decompose/factor/deblock
分解する is used both in the spoken language and written language. It is especially important in construction, science, and computer science. Its intransitive and transitive usages are both very common.
3. 水を電気分解すると、水素と酸素が発生し水が分解します。
When you electrolyze water, hydrogen and oxygen are produced, which results in the water decomposing.
4. 下記の式を因数分解しなさい。
Factor the equation(s) below.
5. 脂肪を分解する酵素があります。
There is an enzyme that breaks down fat.
・決定する – To decide/determine
決定する is largely literary, but it is commonly used in news reports. Its intransitive form is more common than its transitive form, but neither usage is rare by any means.
6. 委員会は今年度の政策方針を決定した。
The committee decided upon the line of policy for this fiscal year.
7. 放送日が決定しました。
The air date has been determined.
Grammar Note: Some speakers use 決定される for the intransitive usage, but this is not grammatically necessary.
・内定する – To make a tentative decision
内定する is formal and literary. Its intransitive usage is the most common.
8. 先週の選挙で落選した○○氏が内定したことが分かりました。
It has been discovered that Mr. ##, who lost in last week’s election, has been unofficially decided (for a certain post).
9. 役員人事を内定しました。
We have tentatively decided on officer resources.
・継続する
継続する is more so literary than a spoken word, but it is quite commonly used adverbially in the gerund—as 継続して –to express a continuation of a certain situation. This comes from its transitive usage. Its intransitive usage is more or less a formal synonym of続く.
10. 既存のドメインを継続して使えますか。
Can I continue using my existing domain?
Reading Note: The traditional reading of 既存 is きそん, but きぞん has become its typical pronunciation, which helps distinguish it from 毀損 (defamation) with the same reading of きそん.
11. 経済の進展が継続している。
Economic development is continuing.
・持続する – To persist/last/sustain
Although similar to 継続する, 持続する is used to indicate that status is persisting and being sustained whereas 継続する only describes a condition that is continuing from before. An end point to the state in question is left far more uncertain with 持続する than with 継続する. Similarly, it too is largely used in the written language, but it is also commonly used in news reports. Both its intransitive and transitive usages are commonly used.
12. 平均6時間ほど｛効き目・薬効｝が持続します。
The effects last for an average of approximately six hours.
13. 調和のとれた関係を持続することが第一です。
Sustaining a balanced relationship is first and foremost.
・連続する – To occur in succession
連続する is commonly used in both the spoken and written language. Its transitive usage is not as common, but when the verb is used as a gerund in 連続して, it can come from either its intransitive or transitive usage.
14. 就職活動は失敗が連続するのが当たり前だ。
It’s only natural to continuously fail in job hunting.
15. 高品質加工を連続することが可能となった。
It has become possible to continually perform high quality manufacturing.
16. 連続して予約を取ることはできますか。
Is it possible to continuously make reservations?
Nuance Note: If there is in fact brief intervals in repeatedly doing an action, 連続で rather than連続して is appropriate.
・展開する – To develop/unfold/extend
As an intransitive verb, 展開する is essentially interchangeable with 広がる, but 広がる is far more common in both the spoken and written language. In the sense of “to develop/unfold,” however, it can be used in an intransitive and or transitive sense. In an intransitive sense, many speakers opt to change it to 展開される. This is likely because the agent of the development is implicitly felt to be relevant. Overall, the verb is more so used in the written language, but it isn’t all that rare in the spoken language.
17. 遙かに佐賀平野が｛広がっている・展開している｝。
The Saga Plain extends in the distance.
18. 有意義な議論が展開されました。
A meaningful discussion developed (by the participants).
19. 専門家たちが精力的な活動を展開した。
The experts developed an energetic activity.
・移動する – To move/transfer/migrate
The verb 移動する is used as a slightly formal means to simply show the movement/transferring/migration from one place to another. You will see it used in all sorts of situations including in computer science settings when you move things around. This verb is slightly more common in the written language, but it wouldn’t be odd to use it in the spoken language.
Its transitive use is sometimes represented with 移動させる. However, this is not grammatically necessary. In fact, it can be grammatically confusing because it should only be the causative form as in “(X has) Y move Z…” like in Ex. 22.
20. 病院の指示で福祉避難所に移動しました。
I moved to a welfare shelter under the direction of the hospital.
21. ファイルやフォルダを移動｛させて・して｝みましょう。
Try moving files and folders.
22. 生徒たちを高台に移動させてください。
Please move the students to high ground.
・縮小する – To reduce/shrink/curtail
The intransitive usage is most often seen as 縮小される. Although this does imply some agent doing the action, the main reasoning for why 縮小する is not simply used is because many speakers don’t register it as being both intransitive and intransitive. Its transitive usage, however, is extremely common.
23. ファイルサイズを縮小してください。
Please shrink the file size.
24. 金融資産の格差が縮小した。
Financial asset disparity has shrunk.
25. ツールバーが縮小されてしまった。
The tool bar got minimized.
・拡大する – To magnify/enlarge/amplify/expand
The verb 拡大する is slightly formal but still common in both the spoken and written language. Some speakers inadvertently use 拡大される when used intransitively, but unless you wish to implicitly hint at an agent, then this is not grammatically necessary.
26. 資源価格上昇で輸出が拡大している。
Exports are expanding due to rises in the price of resources.
27. 画面が自動的に拡大されます。
The screen automatically enlarges.
28. 各国が現在も兵器生産を拡大し、海外へ軍隊を増派している。
Even now, each nation is expanding its weapon production and is sending troop reinforcements overseas.
・完成する – To complete/accomplish
When something has been completely accomplished, and the result is visible for all to see, you can use the verb 完成する. It is used in both the spoken and written language, and its intransitive and transitive usages are both very common.
29. 津波避難ビルが完成しました。
The tsunami refuge building has been completed.
30. 防災マップを完成しました。
I’ve completed the disaster prevention map.
・完了する – To complete/conclude
When you conclude a task, you can use the verb 完了する. It is rather formal and both its intransitive and transitive usages are very common.
31. 修正が完了しました。
Editing has been completed.
32. 登録を完了しました。
I’ve completed the registration.
・終了する – To end/close/terminate
When something ends/terminates, you can use the verb 終了する. It’s somewhat formal and more common in the written language. Its intransitive and transitive usages are both very common. It is important to note that this verb does not imply that a task has been thoroughly completed before ending.
33. ヘドロの浚渫は1990年に終了し、豊かな海が再生した。
The sludge dredging was terminated in 1990, and the rich sea restored itself.
34. 募集を終了しました。
We’ve ended recruiting/taking applications/raising (donations).
・実現する – To implement/materialize/realize
The intransitive use of 実現する is the primary usage of this verb. As a transitive verb, many speakers are compelled to use 実現させる instead. This doesn’t always necessarily mean the causative nuance of “to make/let someone…” is literally intended, but it will always imply a more direct involvement of the agent to make something happen.
35. 勤勉に働き、辛抱すれば夢は実現するでしょう。
If you work diligently and persevere, your dreams will surely be realized.
36. 持続的な経済成長を実現するためには、現在よりも大胆な為替・金融緩和政策に加えて、雇用の拡大、賃金の引き上げなど消費拡大に繋がる政策を進める必要があります。
In order to implement sustainable economic growth, in addition to far more audacious exchange and finance easing policies than now, we must forward policies that are linked to consumption expansion by such means as expanding employment, raising wages, etc.
37. 居心地の良さを実現｛した・させた｝モダンな住宅です。
This is a modern home that realizes coziness.
38. 息子が夢を実現｛しました・させました｝。
My son has realized his dreams.
・転換する – To convert/divert/changeover/switch-over
The verb 転換する is generally used to indicate changes into tendency/directives. So, even though the fundamentals of the matter may not change, the direction of said entity might. This word is appropriate in both the spoken and the written language. Its intransitive usage is most common. As an intransitive verb, the form 転換させる is preferred, especially when emphasis is placed on the agent.
39. 下降トレンドが上向きに転換しました。
The downward trend has switched upward.
40. 日銀は、金融政策を転換しました。
The Bank of Japan has shifted its finance policies.
41. ニクソン大統領は、それまでの冷戦構造を転換させました。
President Nixon had changed-over the structuring of the Cold War up to that time.
・変換する – To change/convert/transform
The verb 変換する is a somewhat technical verb that indicates switching out/converting something from one thing to another. However, it cannot refer to religious conversion. That would be handled by the verb 改宗する. Its intransitive usage is rare, so much so that most speakers replace it with 変換される. Although this grammatically implicitly hints at an agent, this is not usually meant by the speaker. Rather, using the “passive form” is a means of lexicalizing a transitive verb in an intransitive means.
42. 色々と操作しているうちにワードの文字が変換｛されました・しました｝。
While doing all sorts of operations, the characters in Word (got) converted.
43. 動画をPSP用に変換しました。
I converted the video to be for the PSP.
・集中する – To concentrate/converge/centralize
The intransitive usage of this verb is not so common and more so stilted for the written language; however, its transitive usage is very common in both the spoken and written languages.
43. 精神を集中して努力すればどんなことでも成し遂げられないことはない。
If you concentrate your mind and exert yourself, there isn’t anything that you cannot accomplish.
44. 現在アクセスが集中しているため、投稿ができません。
Unable to post due to a current heavy traffic spike.
45. ○○会長に議員らの質問が集中した。
Questions from the assemblymen converged on Chairman ##.
・減少する – To decrease/decline/reduce
This is a literary verb that is frequently also used in news reports. Its usually always used as an intransitive verb. In fact, even though its transitive usage is grammatically correct, it’s unnatural to the majority of speakers nowadays. If you’re compelled to use this verb in a transitive manner, the form 減少される is more natural, this is despite the fact that this could also mean “to make X decrease/reduce Y.”
46. メイン湾ではタラの漁獲量が減少している。
In the Gulf of Main, cod hauls are declining.
Spelling Note: タラ may alternatively be spelled as 鱈.
47. 体重を｛減らす・減少させる・△ 減少する｝には、限界がある。
There is a limit to reducing weight.
・増加する – To increase
This verb is more common as an intransitive verb. When used as a transitive verb, some speakers opt to use 増加させる even though that can technically also be used as the verb’s causative form. It is literary and is frequently used in news reports. It is “to increase” as in making the quantity of something larger.
48. 血液検査の前に運動することも白血球が増加する原因の一つです。
Exercising before blood work is also one reason for a rise in white blood cell count.
49. この回路の電流供給量を増加｛する・させる｝ことができます。
It is possible to increase the current supply of this circuit.
・増殖する – To increase/propagate
This verb is typically used to mean “to propagate” as in organic matter. This could be procreation or the proliferation of cells. It may also refer to the increase of resources, especially assets, but this is not near as common. Although both its intransitive and transitive usages are common, as a transitive verb, it is often seen as 増殖させる. Because it is largely used in the realm of biology, the causative sense of making cells propagate, for instance, is very natural.
50. 患者自身の細胞を増殖｛して・させて｝移植するという「再生医療」が進んでいる。
“Regenerative medicine,” in which one propagates the cells of the patient himself and then transplant (said cells back into the patient), is advancing.
50. 癌細胞は、徐々に増殖し、他の組織や臓器に移転してしまうのです。
Cancer cells gradually propagate and then end up moving to other tissues and organs.
Transitivity Note: 移転する is another example and grammatically functions just like 移動する. 移転する can refer moving of placement/location or the transfer of legal rights whereas 移動する simply refers to the movement from one place to another.
・増大する – To enlarge/increase
This is a literary verb largely used in an intransitive sense that refers to the increase in degree, not quantity. When used as a transitive verb, if the agent has direct involvement in the action, 増大させる is preferred.
51. 医薬品の支出が増大している。
Medical supply expenditures are increasing.
52. 米国政府はまたも防衛予算を増大させることを発表した。
The U.S. government has again announced that they are to increase the defense budget.
53. 多くの国が科学技術（の）予算を増大している。
Many countries are increasing their science and technology budgets.
・固定する – fixate/fix
This verb is common in both the spoken and written language. Its transitive usage is more common. When used as an intransitive verb, it is frequently seen as 固定される. This is less likely when referring to a fixed state in which no exertion was used to make it so.
54. レベルが上がらず元のレベルに固定｛して・されて｝しまうことがあります。
There are times in which one level doesn’t go up and one is fixed to one’s original level.
55. 棚板と支柱を固定しているネジを外します。
Remove the screws that fixate the shelf boards and props together.
Spelling Note: ネジmay alternatively be spelled as ねじ, 捩子, 螺子, 螺旋, or 捻子.
・再生する – To resuscitate/playback/etc.
As an intransitive verb, 再生する typically refers to something restoring back to life. This can be used in a figurative sense. It may also refer to reformation of a person as well. It may also be used to refer to regeneration. This usage can be both intransitive and transitive. As a transitive verb, it can also mean to “play (back)” as in video footage. When its meanings revolving regeneration, which includes playing back sound, is used in an intransitive fashion, it’s typically seen as 再生される. Lastly, this verb is used in both the spoken and the written language.
56. パワーポイントで動画を再生したいです。
I want to play a video on PowerPoint.
57. Wi-Fi環境が不安定な場合、映像が再生されないことがあります。
Whenever your Wi-Fi environment is unstable, footage may not play.
58. 再生遺伝子を起動させる因子を発見し、それをマウスに移植されたところ、マウスの組織が再生されたそうです。
I hear that they’ve discovered the factor that activates the gene for regeneration, and upon having it transplanting in a mouse, the mouse’s tissue was regenerated.
59. 失った部位を再生する遺伝子が存在する。
Genes for regeneration lost body parts exist.
60. カニの足は何度も再生するって本当ですか。
Is it really true that crab legs regenerate many times over?
Spelling Note: カニ may also be spelled as 蟹.
・開始する – To begin/start
This is the literary version of 始まる and 始める. It is more formal and used extensively in news reports. Some speakers use 開始される instead when used in the intransitive sense. Although this technically implicitly hints at the agent, this is not always the case.
61. 平成28年1月から、マイナンバー制度が開始しました。
The “My Number” system started in January 2016.
62. これらは全て来月から開始されます。
These will all be started next month.
63. 5月より皮膚科の診察を開始します。
We will begin dermatology examinations starting in May.
・反転する – To Roll Over/Turn Around
This verb means “to roll over/turn around” and is appropriate in both the written and the spoken language. When used transitively, some people prefer to use 反転させる, but this is also the verb’s causative form. Sometimes, using this incidentally personifies non-living agents like in Ex. 64.
64. 強い台風○号は15日、暴風域を伴いながら、沖縄・南大東島の南で進路を北東に反転｛した・させた｝。
On the fifteenth, the strong Typhoon #? turned its course around northeast to the south of Minamidaito Island of Okinawa along with its storm area.
65. アメリカに住むアフリカ系アメリカ人50人と、南アフリカ人50人の食生活をそっくり入れ替えてみたところ、2週間で腸内フローラが反転し、アメリカ人の腸内フローラは南アフリカ人と同じ特徴を表すようになり、南アフリカ人の腸内は大腸癌の発症リスクが高くなることが分かりました。
After precisely switching the dietary habits of 50 Americans of African descent living in America and 50 South Africans with each other, it was discovered that their intestinal florae (of the two groups) reversed in two weeks; the intestinal florae of the Americans expressed the same characteristics as the South Africans, and the risk of developing colorectal cancer in the intestines of the South Africans rose.
・停止する – To Suspend
This is a slightly more literary version of 止まる and 止める meaning “to halt/cease/suspend/interrupt/ban.” The suspension/hang-up in question is not necessarily permanent.
66. 移動が停止してしまい、ミスに繋がることがありました。
Movement would halt, which sometimes led to mistakes.
67. 東京都は、卸売業者3社に対して、最大20日間、業務を停止するよう命じました。
Tokyo has ordered the suspension of operations for a maximum of twenty days to three wholesalers.