Japanese Grammar Bank

OPEN & CLOSE IN JAPANESE

In Japanese, the concepts of open and close can be expressed using both transitive and intransitive verbs.

Transitive verbs describe actions that require a direct object, while intransitive verbs do not.

This concept is a menace for English speakers learning Japanese, so we’ll take a look at them today.

他動詞 TRANSITIVE VERBS

他動詞 tadoushi

Let’s have a quick look at what the different kinds of verbs are.

Transitive verbs require a direct object. In English one of the most common transitive verbs is need.

Sentences become incomplete if there isn’t a direct object after a transitive verb, as below:

I need money.→ Complete as a direct object is included
I need.→ Incomplete as no direct object

In Japanese, there are also transitive verbs.

In fact, many common verbs like 読む yomu to read, 飲む nomu to drink, and 食べる taberu to eat are transitive.

自動詞 INTRANSITIVE VERBS

自動詞 jidoushi

The other kind are intransitive verbs.

These, on the contrary, can’t take a direct object directly after, or the sentence gets messed up. Instead, they can take an adverb or prepositional phrases. In English, verbs like to sit are intransitive.

I sat on the chair. → Correct as a preposition followed the verb.
I sat chair.→ Incorrect as an object followed the verb.

In Japanese, some common verbs like 行くiku to go, 働くhataraku to work, and 泳ぐ oyogu to swim are intransitive.

NOTE || If you can ask What can you ___? with a verb and it sounds correct as a question then it’s transitive.

For example, What can you eat? is okay, but What can you go? isn’t.

TO OPEN IN JAPANESE

If you search a Japanese dictionary for how to say to open you’ll find a variety of verbs:

開く akuTransitive
開けるakeruIntransitive
開くhirakuTransitive
開けるhirakeruIntransitive

Isn’t it absolutely awful that the same kanji is used for all of these!

You’ll notice that the kanji is either taking あ a or ひら hira.

  • The verbs that use あba are used for situations in which space is created.
  • The verbs that use ひら hira are referring to the physical movement of something opening or unfolding.

So, when we talk about opening a sliding window, we use the あ a form as when you open a sliding window you are connecting 2 spaces.

But when we talk about opening a door, we use ひら hira because we are focusing on the movement of the door on a hinge to open.

As such, things like flower petals unfolding are also expressed with ひら hira.

Now, let’s take a look at the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. The difference between the pairs of verbs is the nuance.

The transitive versions are focused on the subject doing the action whereas the intransitive verbs are focused on the opening itself.

For example:

田中さんは門を開けた
Tanakasan ha mon wo aketa
Mr Tanaka opened the gate		vs 門が開いた
mon ga aita
The gate opened

The former is nuanced to highlight the person who did the opening.

TO CLOSE IN JAPANESE

There are 2 main ways to say to close something:

閉めるshimeruTransitive
閉じるtojiruTransitive or intransitive

Luckily, we don’t have to remember any differences in conceptual meaning for these ones. The only thing you have to make sure you understand is the difference in transitivity.

閉める shimeru – To shut something (physically):

  • 田中さんはドアを閉めた Tanaka san wa doa o shimeta. Mr Tanaka shut the door.
  • 田中さんは門を閉めた Tanaka san wa mon o shimeta. Mr Tanaka closed the gate.

閉じる tojiru (intransitive) for something to close or to come to an end:

  • 店が閉じる Mise ga tojiru. A shop/business closes permanently.
  • 会が閉じる Kai ga tojiru. A meeting ends.

閉じる tojiru (transitive) to close something:

  • 目を閉じる Me o tojiru. To close one’s eyes.
  • 口を閉じる Kuchi o tojiru. To close one’s mouth.

SUMMARY

  • 他動詞 tadoushi Transitive Verbs require a direct object and answer the question “What do you ___?”.
  • 自動詞 jidoushi Intransitive Verbs can’t have a direct object after.
  • When 開 is read as あ a, it’s referring to connecting two spaces.
  • When 開 is read as ひら hira, it’s referring to something physically opening.
  • Using 開くaku highlights the thing that opened, whereas 開ける akeru highlights the person/thing that did the opening.
  • 閉 shimeru to close is transitive and used for things like doors.
  • 閉じる tojiru can be transitive or intransitive.
  • When 閉じる tojiru is transitive, it’s used for things like closing one’s eyes.
  • When 閉じる tojiru is intransitive, it’s used for things that have come to a close, like meetings.

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FAQs

What are transitive verbs in Japanese?

Transitive verbs require a direct object. In English one of the most common transitive verbs is need.

Sentences become incomplete if there isn’t a direct object after a transitive verb, as below:

I need money.

→ Complete as a direct object is included

I need.

→ Incomplete as no direct object

In Japanese, there are also transitive verbs.

In fact, many common verbs like 読む yomu to read, 飲む nomu to drink, and 食べる taberu to eat are transitive.

What are intransitive verbs in Japanese?

Intransitive verbs, contrary to transitive verbs, can’t take a direct object directly after, or the sentence gets messed up.

Instead, they can take an adverb or prepositional phrases. In English, verbs like to sit are intransitive.

I sat on the chair.

→ Correct as a preposition followed the verb.

I sat chair.

→ Incorrect as an object followed the verb.

In Japanese, some common verbs like 行くiku to go, 働くhataraku to work, and 泳ぐ oyogu to swim are intransitive.

NOTE || If you can ask What can you ___? with a verb and it sounds correct as a question then it’s transitive.

For example, What can you eat? is okay, but What can you go? isn’t.

How to say to open in Japanese?

If you search a Japanese dictionary for how to say to open you’ll find a variety of verbs:

開くaku (transitive)

開ける akeru (intransitive)

開く hiraku (transitive)

開ける hirakeru (intransitive)

You’ll notice that the kanji is either taking あ a or ひら hira.

The verbs that use あba are used for situations in which space is created.

The verbs that use ひら hira are referring to the physical movement of something opening or unfolding.

So, when we talk about opening a sliding window, we use the あ a form as when you open a sliding window you are connecting 2 spaces.

But when we talk about opening a door, we use ひら hira because we are focusing on the movement of the door on a hinge to open.

As such, things like flower petals unfolding are also expressed with ひら hira.

田中さんは門を開けた Tanakasan ha mon wo aketa

Mr Tanaka opened the gate

門が開いた mon ga aita

The gate opened

How to say to close in Japanese?

There are 2 main ways to say to close something:

閉める shimeru (Transitive)

閉じる tojiru (Transitive or intransitive)

Luckily, we don’t have to remember any differences in conceptual meaning for these ones. The only thing you have to make sure you understand is the difference in transitivity.

閉める shimeru – To shut something (physically):

田中さんはドアを閉めた Tanaka san wa doa o shimeta. Mr Tanaka shut the door.

田中さんは門を閉めた Tanaka san wa mon o shimeta. Mr Tanaka closed the gate.

閉じる tojiru (intransitive) for something to close or to come to an end:

店が閉じる Mise ga tojiru. A shop/business closes permanently.

会が閉じる Kai ga tojiru. A meeting ends.

閉じるtojiru (transitive) to close something:

目を閉じる Me o tojiru. To close one’s eyes.

口を閉じる Kuchi o tojiru. To close one’s mouth.

Where can I find more lessons like this?

Check out our Japanese Grammar Bank, where you’ll find lessons for levels A1, A2 and B2.

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