In this third lesson on verbs with both intransitive and transitive usages, we’ll continue to uncover peculiarities in Japanese at the individual word basis.
する
する is the most important verb in the Japanese language as we have already learned due to how many usages it has and how important those usages are to the entirety of the language. Unsurprisingly, its usages can be classified as either being intransitive or transitive in nature.
As an intransitive verb, する can demonstrate a sense being sensed, in some state (often with onomatopoeia), show the worth of something (as in price), or the elapse of time (with time phrases).
1. アテモヤは砂糖で煮詰めたリンゴのような味がします。
The atemoya has a flavor like that of an apple boiled down in sugar.
Spelling Note: Ringo is seldom spelled as 林檎.
2. 目がぐるぐると回るような眩暈がした。
I got dizzy as if my eyes were spinning.
3. 耳鳴りがするとお化けが側にいるって本当ですか。
Is it true that a ghost is next to you when your ears ring?
4. 背後に強烈な爆発音がした。
There was the sound of an intense explosion in the background.
5. しばらくしてから行きましょう。
Let’s go after a little while.
Spelling Note: しばらく is sometimes written as 暫く.
6. このネックレスはいくらしたの？
How much was this necklace?
Spelling Note: いくら is seldom spelled as 幾ら.
7. 狭くて息が詰まるような感じする。
I feel cramped.
8. 日焼けしちゃった。
I got sunburned.
As a transitive verb, its primary meaning is “to do.” Aside from its complex grammatical usages that happen to be transitive, it can be used to show occupation, mean “to play (a game/sport/etc.),” “to wear (an accessory)", or even “to be...(shaped)/to have a…(face)/etc.” when describing appearances.
9. 何をしたらいいでしょうか。
What should I do?
10. ここは、代々パン屋をしている老舗です。
This here is an old bakery past down for generations.
11. 手袋をしなさい。
Please wear your cloves.
12. 彼は長い髪をしている。
He has long hair.
13. 買い物でもしようか。
How about we shop or something?
14. 僕の勤めている会社にパチンコをする人が数人いました。
There were several people who play pachinko at the company where I work.
15. 惑星ってどんな形をしているんですか。
What sort of shape do planets have?
16. 変な顔しないでよ。
Don’t make weird faces.
Spelling Note: 為る may very well be the Kanji for “to do,” but it is no longer used in regular writing. If, though, you feel compelled to know how in its truly transitive sense of “to do” is spelled in Kanji, then this is how.
増す
増す is a literary verb that means “to increase.” In this regard, it is very similar to the intransitive/transitive verb pair 増える and 増やす. 増える, unlike 増す, is commonly used in both the written and spoken language. It, though, can have emotion attached to it whereas 増す is only used in an objective sense. However, unlike 増す, it cannot be used to express (dramatic) increase in degree (See Exs. 17, 18, and 21).
17. プミポン国王の喪失で、タイの将来への不安が増している。
With the loss of King Bhumibol, suspense over Thailand’s future is massing.
18. 極右政党が勢いを増している。
The far right political party is gathering strength.
19. 日本では高齢者の人口が増している。
In Japan, the elderly population is increasing.
20. 前日の大雨で川の水嵩が増して、川が氾濫した。
In the heavy rain the other day, the river’s banks enlarged, causing the river to inundate.
21. 地震波は、深さと共に速度を増している。
The seismic waves are increasing in depth as well as speed.
22. 研究人の人数が増えた。
The number of researchers has increased.
23. 交通事故の数が増えているのは何故だろうか。
Why is that the number of traffic accidents is increasing?
24. 強盗が増えてきているため、宝石店などでは厳重な防犯対策が必要です。
Because robberies have risen, strong crime prevention measures are necessary at places such as jewelry stores.
増やす is used in the sense of “to increase the number of (resources).” When used in the sense of “to increase (fortune/animals/plants)” as in promulgation, it is often spelled as 殖やす. When this meaning is used in an intransitive sense, 殖える can be used.
25. 相続財産が｛増えて・殖えて｝いきます。
Your inheritance will increase.
26. 商品の種類を増やすことで、カナダでの売り上げを伸ばしたいと思います。
By increasing the variety of merchandise, I would like to expand sales in Canada.
27. 生物の種類を殖やしていきたいと思います。
I would like to increase the diversity of living things.
28. 不動産を活用して財産を殖やす。
To increase assets by utilizing real estate.
働く
As an intransitive verb, 働く means “to work” or “to function.” As a transitive verb, it means “to perpetrate.”
29. 中国では、出稼ぎ労働者の多くは、工場などで働いているようです。
In China, a lot of migrant workers seem to work at places like factories.
30. 上司が不正を働いていることにたまたま気づいてしまいました。
I’ve incidentally noticed that my boss is committing fraud.
Spelling Note: たまたま is seldom spelled as 偶々.
31. 悪事を働いても何も感じないという人は少ない。
There are few people who don’t feel anything from having committed an evil deed.
32. 息子が盗みを働いているとは考えたくなかった。
I didn't want to think that my son was committing robberies.
引く
As a transitive verb, ひく can mean a variety of things with just as many ways to spell it. 引く just happens to be the most basic way to spell it. As an intransitive verb, it simply means “to ebb/fade.”
33. くじを引いてみました。
I tried drawing a lot.
Spelling Note: くじ may also be spelled as 籤.
34. 参加者の目を惹いていました。
It had been drawing the participants’ attention.
Spelling Note: When used to mean “to attract/captivate,” ひく is usually written as 惹く.
35. 先日、風邪を引きました。
I caught a cold the other day.
36. ｛まっすぐに線・直線｝を引いてください。
Please draw a straight line.
Spelling Note: まっすぐ may alternatively be spelled as 真っ直ぐ.
37. 辞書を引いてください。
Please consult a dictionary.
38. 3から2を引くと、1になります。
When you subtract 2 from 3, you get 1.
39. カードを引いてください。
Please draw a card.
40. 熱が引いてから2、3日は外出を控えてください。
Refrain from going out for two to three days after the fever has receded.
41. 潮が引いたら歩いて渡れます。
You can walk across once the tide has ebbed away.
42. 孫氏は長年、政治の表舞台を｛引退している・退いている/退いている｝。
Mr. Sun has retired from the center stage of politics for many years.
Spelling Note: When used to mean “to draw back/retire,” ひく is often written as 退く but it becomes indistinguishable from the verb しりぞく, which is far more common and used for the same purpose.
43. 挽き肉を自分で挽きたいのですが、どんな肉を用意すればいいでしょうか。
I’d like to mince ground meet by myself, but what sort of meat should I prepare?
Spelling Note: When used to mean “to saw/mince,” ひく is usually written as 挽く.
44. コーヒー豆を｛挽く・碾く｝と、いい香りがします。
Coffee grains have a good scent when you grind them.
Spelling Note: When used to mean “to grind/mill,” ひく is often written as 挽く. It may also be traditionally written as 碾く.
45. 抹茶はなぜ石臼で｛挽く・碾く｝んですか。
Why is it that you grind matcha in a stone mortar?
Culture Note: 抹茶 is powdered green tea.
46. 私が自転車に乗って直進していたところ、前からきた左折する車に轢かれました。
As I was riding straight ahead on my bicycle, I was knocked down by a car turning left which had come from ahead.
Spelling Note: When used to mean “to run over (with a vehicle)", ひく is usually spelled as 轢く.
47. ピアノを弾けますか。
Can you play the piano?
Spelling Note: When used to mean “to play (a string instrument)", ひくis spelled as 弾く.
Spelling Notes: ひく may seldom be spelled as 曳く with a nuance of “to tow.” This is especially the case with towing boats, which may be expressed alternatively with the verb 曳航する. When used to mean “to pull/drag ahead,” ひく may seldom be spelled as 牽く. In this sense of “traction/hauling,” the verb 牽引する would be far more common.