Intransitive & Transitive: Part 7
In this seventh installment about verbs that are both intransitive and transitive, we’ll look at another handful of verbs that deserve special attention. In this lesson, all verbs discussed are typically taught as being primarily used with に, but their usages with を mustn’t be overlooked. As was the case last lesson, these usages with を typically fall under 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.
負ける
The verb 負ける is generally an intransitive verb meaning “to lose (to).” It can even mean “to break out in a rash (due to shaving, etc.). However, it has one transitive meaning that is equivalent to 安くする. In other words, in addition to meaning to succumb to defeat, it can also be mean reducing the price of something.
1. 試合に負けました。
I lost (in) the match.
2. 肌が弱いので、どうしてもかみそりに負けて出血してしまいます。
My skin is tender, and so no matter what, I break out from razors and end up bleeding.
Spelling Note: かみそり may also be spelled as 剃刀.
3. 値段を負けて売ることの不合理に、全く我慢できません！
I absolutely can’t stand the irrationality behind lowering the price and selling it!
4. 日本やアメリカなどでは、値段を負けてもらうということが少ない。
There are few instances in Japan and America where you get the price down on something.
5. 仲介手数料を負けてくれない不動産会社が多い。
There are many real estate companies that won’t lower brokerage fees.
当たる
当たる creates an intransitive-transitive verb pair with 当てる. Unfortunately, things get complicated due to the fact that they both have several nuances and because 当たる also happens to have transitive uses that cannot be replaced by 当てる.
当たる (intrs.): To be hit; to be equivalent to; to win (a lottery); to be stricken (by heat, food poisoning, etc.); to hit well (baseball); to feel a bite (in fishing); to be bruised (fruit); to be called upon (by a teacher); to be assigned to; to be right on the money; to lash out at.
6. 石がガラスに当たっても割れ辛く、もし割れたとしても石がガラスを貫通しない。
Even if rocks hit the glass, it’s hard to crack. Even if it were to crack, the rock won’t penetrate the glass.
7. 長期間日が当たらないと、うまく育ちません。
If it isn’t exposed to the sun for a long period of time, it won’t grow well.
8. スーツの前ボタンを締めないのは、失礼に当たりますか。
Would it be rude not to fasten the front button of a suit?
9. 親を悪く思うだけでも罰が当たります。
Even by merely thinking bad about your parents, you’ll incur punishment.
10. 雨の天気予報が当たってよかった。
I’m glad that the rain forecast was right on.
11. 通常、要人の身辺警護に当たっている。
Normally, (the individual) is assigned to the personal protection of important persons.
12. フグに｛当たったら・中ったら｝、首から下を土に埋めろ。If you get poisoned by a puffer-fish, bury yourself from the neck down in dirt.
Spelling Notes: フグ can alternatively be spelled as 河豚. When used to mean “to be stricken,” 当たるcan seldom be seen spelled as 中る.
13. それは｛あたってる・傷んでる｝だけでしょう。
That’s just bruised, you know.
Nuance Note: A lot of speakers do not understand what is meant by あたる when used in the context of indicating that food produce is bruised. This is because although it is in dictionaries, it is dialectical in nature. Some people will be confused because of how に当たる can indicate food poisoning. After all, one way of saying “food poisoning” itself is 食中り. When using 当たる to indicate bruising, there is a nuance of the bruising being caused by the produce hitting each other, likely during transport. To avoid confusion, using the verb 傷む is your best bet.
当たる (trans.): To check (by comparison); to probe into; to shave.
This usage typically takes に as well; however, when used to mean “to check (establishments),”を is typically used.
14. イライラして旦那や息子や犬にまで当たってしまいました。
I got irritated and lashed out at my husband, son, and even my dog.
15. 原本に当たって校正してほしいです。
I’d like you to proofread by checking with the original script.
16. 詳細は本人に当たってください。
For details, please see the person himself.
17. 小さな個人経営のお店を当たっています。
I’m checking small businesses.
18. 他を当たってください。
Please check (another store).
19. 顔を当たりますか。
Shall I shave your face?
Word Note: In certain lines of industry, instances of 剃る (to shave), 擂る (to grind), and other things resembling the two in pronunciation such as 鯣・スルメ (dried squid/cuttlefish) have そる・する replaced by 当たる. As for スルメ, it turns into当たりめ.
当てる (trans.): To hit; expose; to put (on/against); to allot; to make a hit (in a lottery); to guess (an answer); to call on; to sit (on a cushion); to address.
20. 座布団を当ててください。
Please sit on the floor cushion.
21. 和語に漢字を当てる。
To attach Kanji to native Japanese words.
22. 観葉植物を昼間に屋外で日に当てていたら、枯れてしまった。
When I had left my decorative plant exposed to the sun outdoors in the afternoon, it died.
23. ポイントが貯まると、このポイントを利用して航空費や旅費に充てることができるようになったりします。
When points build up, by using them you become able to do things like allot them to air fares and travel expenses.
Spelling Note: When used to mean “to allot,” あてる is spelled as 充てる.
24. 今度は母に宛てて手紙を書きました。
I wrote a letter addressed to my mother.
Spelling Note: When used to mean “to address” as in a document of some sort, あてる is spelled as 宛てる.
25. 授業中、当たりたくないと思って、先生と目を合わせないようにしていたら、当てられてしまった。
During class while I was trying not to lock eyes with the teacher so that I wouldn’t get called on, I got called upon.
26. うまく当てた。
I guessed right.
喜ぶ
The verb 喜ぶ can incidentally be used with either に or を. The nuance is slightly different and so it is often the case that you can switch up the particles in most instances without making a grammatical error. に喜ぶ means “to be delighted/pleased with” and を喜ぶ means “to rejoice at/congratulate.”
27. 相手の幸せを一緒に喜ぶと、好感が持てる。
When you celebrate another person’s happiness together, you give a positive vibe.
28. 私達は何故他人の不幸を喜ぶのか。
Why is it that we rejoice at other people’s misfortune?
29. 震災を喜ぶようなブログなどがネット上に流れているのも事実である。
It is also true that there are blogs and such circulating on the internet that seem to rejoice at natural disasters.
30. 美味しいデザートに喜ばない女性はいません。
There isn’t a woman who isn’t pleased with a delicious desert.
31. 大きな成果に喜ぶこともあれば、うまくいかず落胆し、葛藤を繰り返した経験も多くあるでしょう。
If you’re ever delighted at great results, then you will surely also have experienced things not going well, getting discouraged, and then having repeated those troubles.
32. 選手たちは久々の勝利に喜んでいる。
The athletes are delighted about their long overdue victory.
怒る
When used with the particle に as an intransitive verb, 怒る means “to get mad at…” As a transitive verb with the particle を, it means “to scold.” There is also the verb 叱る which also means “to scold,” but 叱る is thought to be constructive whereas 怒る is usually not constructive.
33. 子供に怒って、怒鳴ってしまいました。
I got mad at my kid and accidentally shouted at him/her.
34. 飛行機の遅れに怒った女性客が客室乗務員に暴行を加える様子を撮影した動画が炎上している。
A video is receiving a flood of criticisms which captures a female passenger who got angry at the plane’s delay assaulting a flight attendant.
35. 実際の自分に怒っているのに、妻の浪費癖に怒っていると信じ込んでいる夫は多い。
There are many husbands who are convinced that they are mad at their wives’ reckless spending habits even though they are mad at their actual selves.
36. 部下を怒った感情はどれくらい継続するのか。
How long do your feelings continue from having scolded an underling?
37. 生徒を怒ったあと、あなたはどうしますか。
What do you do after scolding a student?
38. 犬を｛叱る・怒る｝ときは鼻を叩けばいいですか。
When scolding a dog, should you hit its nose?
39. 自分のために怒る、相手のために叱る。
You tell someone off for oneself; you reprimand someone for that person’s sake.
40. 子供を感情的に怒ってしまった。
I accidentally emotionally scolded my child(ren).