Intransitive & Transitive: Part 8
In this eighth and final installment on verbs that are both intransitive and transitive, we will master five more verbs that deserve special attention. As has been the case for the last two lessons, their usages with the particle を can more or less be categorized in the three categories below:
1. Either the intransitive or the transitive usage is relatively new in the language. Meaning, some speakers will think it’s wrong to use it a certain way but many speakers still do.
2. The use of the verb in a transitive sense is done so to implicitly show a connection between an agent and an action.
3. The use of the verb in a transitive sense is done so to emphasize the agent’s volition in said action.
垂れる vs 垂らす
The verb 垂れる is an intransitive verb with the basic meanings of “to hang/droop/drip” and its transitive pair is 垂らす, whose basic meanings are “to suspend/hang down/dribble.” However, the two happen to overlap each other in the sense of “to hang/droop.” When the act of suspension is involuntary to a reasonable degree but there is an agent for said suspension, 垂れる is used over 垂らす. This is because垂らす shows an active effort to suspend something.
When you use垂れる, there is a general nuance that the object is not totally detached from the agent. In a sense, it’s as if it is an extension of said agent. For instance, when you’re dangling a fishing lure into a lake, it and the rod that’s undoubtedly in your hand can be viewed as an extension of your hand.
Ironically, however, there are some things that even if they are somehow appended to you, you can’t use 垂れる because there’s no way you aren’t purposely hanging said thing down. One example of this is “bangs” (前髪). Men and women alike who have bangs consciously let their bangs down. Even if they aren’t, idiomatically speaking, only 前髪を垂らす is used.
When, then, can only 垂れる be used? In addition to the basic meanings described already, it can also be used as a condescending variant of the verb 言う (to say).
1. 彼は両腕を垂れて静かに立っていた。
He stood silently with both arms drooping.
2. 両腕を前に垂らします。
Dangle both arms in front of you.
Nuance Note: This would be something that you would hear in an exercise program.
3. 彼は口をだらりと開けたまま涎を垂らしている。
He is slobbering all over with his mouth languidly open.
4. 文句を｛垂れる・言う｝な。
Don’t complain.
5. 無意識のうちに涎が垂れているのは何かの疾患でしょうか。
Is unconsciously having slobber drool a sign of some ailment?
6. 日本では、女性が前髪を垂らして額を出さずに横に流すのが流行っている。
In Japan, for women who have bangs, putting them sideways without covering the forehead is a fashion trend.
7. 何かにつけてウンチクを垂れまくるやつって本当にうるさいよね。
People who just have to say anything and everything they know are really annoying, huh.
Spelling Notes: ウンチク can seldom be spelled as 薀蓄 or 蘊蓄. Also, うるさい may seldom be spelled as 五月蝿い or 煩い.
8. 醤油を垂らしてしっかり火を通してください。
Drip soy sauce on it and heat it thoroughly.
9. 子犬がしっぽを｛垂れて・垂らして｝歩いている。
The puppy has his tail down while walking.
気づく
The verb 気付く means “to notice/recognize/become aware of” and historically only takes the particle に. However, some people use the particle を instead. There are a few grammatical situations, though, that must be put into consideration.
Orthography Note: 気づく may alternatively be spelled as 気付く.
1. When using the causative, there is a direct object and an indirect object. The direct object is who you’re making realize what. The “what” is the indirect object. However, there is no requirement that the indirect object always be in the sentence. This will make it seem as if 気づく is just used with を.
10. 彼氏を口臭に気づかせるためにどうしたらいいですか。
What should I do in order to get my boyfriend to notice his bad breathe?
11. 口臭｛に・を？？｝気づかせるためにどうしたらいいですか。
What should I do in order to get him/her to notice his/her bad breathe?
Sentence Note: In Ex. 10, you could imagine the sentence making sense without 口臭 if it were already mentioned and it was clear in context that that is the indirect object. In Ex. 11, the lack of the direct object causes confusion to some speakers as there is a tendency for を to be used to emphasize the agent’s role in an action. However, in this case, Ex. 11 would literally mean that it’s the breathe odor you’re trying to convince of something, which doesn’t make sense.
12. 写真は気づいていないこと｛に・を？｝気づかせる。
Pictures make you notice things you hadn’t noticed before.
Sentence Note: Ex. 12 has the same issue as Ex. 11 when wo を is used. The one being made to notice is “you” and not the “things one hadn’t noticed before.”
2. The use of を instead of に is often used when using the passive. However, even in this situation, the particle に is still the ‘correct’ one to use. The use of を highlights the seriousness of the situation. Although who you’re noticed by and what is being noticed end up both being marked by に, this poses no real problem to the naturalness of a sentence.
13. 女性は髪を切ったこと｛に・を ?｝気づかれると嬉しいものですか。
Are women happy when their haircuts are noticed?
14. 男性でも髪を切ったこと｛に・を ?｝気づかれたら嬉しいもんですよ。
Even men are happy when their haircuts are noticed.
15. 何かを探っていること｛に・を ?｝気づかれたら、夫婦喧嘩になることはもとより、浮気調査を行うことさえ危うくなってしまう場合があります。
There are instance in which being found out about searching for something results even with performing an infidelity investigation becomes dangerous, let alone the marital disputes.
16. 男性は、自分が嫉妬していること｛に・を?｝気づかれるのが恥ずかしいと思っている。
Men think it’s embarrassing when they’re noticed being jealous.
3. Sometimes 気づく is part of an adverbial phrase, which makes it seem it’s with を but it isn’t.
17. 多くの人が、「女らしさ」「男らしさ」を気づかないうちに信じ込んでいるのです。
Many people believe implicitly in “femininity” and “masculinity” without even realizing it.
4. Another instance of を being used with気づく is in 気づいてもらう. This is done to avoid two に in the same sentence, but as mentioned in the second point, this isn’t a valid grammatical issue.
18. どうしても元カレに復縁したいこと｛に・を?｝気づいてもらいたいんです。
No matter what it takes, I want my ex-boyfriend to realize that I want to reconcile things with him.
19. 鈍感な相手に自分の好意｛に・を ?｝気づいてもらいたい。
I want this dull person to notice my affection to him/her.
20. 陰口を言う人はバレてるの｛に・△ を・Ø｝気づいてないの？
Do people that gossip not even realize that the cat’s out of the bag?
生きる
The intransitive verb “to live” is used to mean so in several ways. It can be taken literally, be used to mean “to be live” as in baseball, indicate what you dedicate your life to, etc. When used with the particle を, 生きる indicates a more dynamic outlook on living out one’s life on a certain stage.
21. ウナギは各地の湖や河川に住む淡水魚ですが、淡水だけでなく海水でも生きることができます。
The eel is a freshwater fish that lives in lakes and rivers everywhere, but it it doesn’t live in just fresh water. It can even life in seawater.
Spelling Note: ウナギ may also be spelled as 鰻.
22. 趣味に生きる若者はダメ！
Young people who subsist on their hobbies are no good!
23. 過去を捨てて今を生きてください。
Throw away the past and live the now.
24. 悔いのない青春を生きてほしい。
I want you to live out a regret-free youth.
25. 他人の人生を生きないと決めましょう。
Decide not to live another’s life.
26. 仕事でただ定時を待つ人生を生きたくない。
I don’t want to live a life where I’m just waiting for the end of the day at work.
Word Note: 定時 refers to the set time one gets off at in Ex. 26.
27. 子供のような探求心を持って人生を生きれば、世界があなたを楽しませてくれるでしょう。
If you live your life with the heart of exploration like that of a child, the world will surely delight you.
触る & 触れる
The verbs 触る and 触れる both mean “to touch, “and they can both incidentally be used with either に or を, but that doesn’t mean these four combinations are freely interchangeable.
1. に触る:触る specifically refers to purposely touching/feeling something, usually using one’s hand(s). In a non-literal sense, it can also mean “to be involved with.” Additionally, when spelled as 障る, it refers to hurting someone’s feelings. In these senses, the typical particle used is に.
28. 暗い中で手が何かに触った。
Something touched my hand in the dark.
29. コタツの中で誰かの足が私の足に触った。
Someone’s leg touched my leg inside the kotatsu.
Spelling Note: コタツ may also be spelled as 炬燵 or 火燵.
30. 授業中に机の下で足を前に伸ばして座っていたら、何か冷たい物が足に触った。
As I was sitting with my legs extended in front of me under the desk during class, something cold touched my legs.
31. 神経に障ることを言う相手にはどう対応したらいいのか。
How should you handle people who say things that get on your nerves?
32. その文の何があなたの癪に障ったの？
What about that sentence offended you?
33. 展示物には触らないでください。
Please do not touch the display.
34. 怪しいものには触らないほうがいいよ。
It’s best not to touch/get involved with suspicious things.
Sentence Note: If this were spoken out-loud, one could interpret this as referring to people because もの can also be 者.
35. 米ドルには触らないほうがいいかな。
It’s maybe best not to touch the American dollar.
2. を触る: The use of を is meant to emphasize the purposeful touching/feeling of something. It is frequently used when expressing touching in which the thing/person touched is not a fan of being touched.
36. 彼氏が胸を触ってきてとても嫌です。
I really hate it when my boyfriend comes and touches my chest.
37. 唐辛子に触った手で鼻を触ってしまいました。
I accidentally touched my noise with the hand that had touched cayenne pepper.
38. 男性が女性の鼻を触りたがるのはなぜでしょうか。
Why is that men want to touch women’s noses?
39. この剣の刃先を触ってみて。
Try feeling the edge of this sword.
40. ウサギを触ろうとしたら、触らせてくれなかった。
When I tried to touch the bunny, it wouldn’t let me touch it.
Spelling Note: ウサギ may alternatively be spelled as 兎.
3. に触れる: In a literal sense, 触れる means “to lightly touch.” In a less literal sense, it encompasses other sense of “touch” such as “to touch on.” You may see it in plenty of set phrases like 目に触れる (to cross one’s eyes). Another important application is when it means “to violate” as in a law or regulation of some sort.
41. 肌が珊瑚に触れたら痒みとかぶれで眠れなくなった。
When my skin touched the coral reef, I ended up not being able to sleep because of itchiness and a rash.
Spelling Note: かぶれ may also be spelled as 気触れ.
42. それ以後も折に触れて3人で活動している。
Even since then, the three of us campaign/do activities occasionally.
Phrase Note: 折に触れて is a rather literary set phrase meaning “occasionally.”
43. 研究室で働いている限りは臨床の問題に触れる機会はほとんどありません。
So long as you are working in the research lab, there are hardly any opportunities to personally touch on clinical issues.
44. 「自分は神より優れている」と口に出せば、神の怒りに触れる事になる。
If you verbalize that oneself is superior to gods, you will offend the gods.
45. 賄賂防止条例に触れる可能性がある。
There is the possibility that it violates the bribe prevention ordinance.
41. 法律に触れる行為をしても、犯罪者にならない法律は驚くことにわんさかあります。
Surprisingly, there are a lot of laws that you won’t become a criminal for even if you do something that violates the law.
4. を触れる: The basic pattern of using 触れる can be viewed as being “object + に + body part +が・を・で.” The use of が implies zero volition in a body part breezing against something. As for Ex. 42, you might wonder why で isn’t used. If で were used, then the listener could just interpret the request as simply banning touching with one’s hands but touching with one’s feet is fair game. By using を, this is not the first that would come to mind. It simply recognizes a willful act of lightly touching something and that act of touching happens to be carried out by one’s hands.
42. 手を触れないでください。
Please don’t touch with your hands.
43. 路上にあったアライグマの死骸を棒で触ってみた。
I tried touching the carcass of a raccoon that was on the side of the road with a stick.
44. はやり目は、その名の通り、非常に感染力が強く、感染者が手を目に触れて、テーブルに手を置いて、そこが乾燥し切る前に別の人が手を触れて、その人が手を目に触れたら、感染してしまう可能性もあります。
Pink eye, literally ‘endemic eye’ (in Japanese, has an extremely great infectious capacity; by an infect person touching his/her hand on the eyes and then placing said hand on a table, if another person touches the table by the hand before it can fully dry out and then touches his/her eye, there is even the potential of that person getting infected.
5: が触れる: In the phrase 脈が触れる, the verb 触れる is used to mean “to feel a pulse.” In this context, there is no に or を used with it.
45. 手首以外で脈が触れるのはこめかみ、喉仏の両脇、肘の内側、大腿の付け根、膝の裏、足の甲などが代表的な部分です。
Aside from the wrists, representative places where you can feel your pulse include the temple, both sides of one’s Adam’s apple, the root of one’s thigh, the back of the knee, and the top of the feet.
Spelling Note: こめかみ may seldom be alternatively spelled as 顳顬.