他動詞と自動詞 (transitive and intransitive verbs)

[newyears072399]

It just occurred to me that the first character for both verb types is seemingly opposite of what they represent. Transitive verbs indicate that an object that is the direct object of something, or someone yet it uses 他 (other), and Intransitive verbs having no direct object use 自 (oneself). It seems to me that they would be easier to remember if the they swapped that first character.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding something. If someone can explain why they use the characters they do I would appreciate it.

[mewes6190]

I can't follow you, in my opinion the first characters fit perfectly.

Transitive Verbs always need some OTHER thing (an object) they are "done" to.
Intransitive verbs can always stand on THEIR OWN.

Two examples: "to pick up" is a transitive verb. You can't simply pick up. You always have to pick up SOMETHING. a kid, a pen, a dog, the phone, whatever. "Pick up" is a verb which always needs some OTHER thing.

"To live" on the other hand is intransitive. You simply live. You can't live a dog, or a house or a pen. You can live your life, but that's an transitive use of an intransitive verb, which is possible in most cases. But intransitive verbs can always stand ALONE, on their OWN, without anything (or any object for that matter) else.

So: transitive needs some OTHER thing, intransitive can stand on ITS OWN. So, the first characters fit perfectly, don't they?!?

[thegooseking]

I was thinking along the lines that a subset of intransitive verbs is reflexive verbs. Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject and object are always the same (and therefore the object is often omitted, though some languages have special reflexive pronouns to occupy the object position (I'm thinking of French and Icelandic) ). The object of a reflexive verb is therefore always oneself. This isn't the only use of intransitive verbs (in Japanese or any other language), but it's a quite significant one.

Then, as Kurokuma-san said, transitive verbs usually have an object that is not oneself, and is therefore 'other'.

小狼

[newyears072399]

That makes a bit more sense. It seems like I had the wrong perspective. Thank you both for your replies.

[community.japanese]

newyears072399-san, Kurokuma-san, 小狼さん、
thank you very much for the interesting discussion here!

Natsuko (奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com