Learn Transitive Verbs to Indicate Objects in Japanese

What Are Transitive Verbs?

Transitive verbs are used when a subject performs an action on an object. In
Japanese, the object of an action is marked by the particle
“O” (を). This simple pattern is commonly used in daily
conversations.

Sentence Pattern: Subject + は (wa) + Object + を (O) + Verb

Here are some example sentences:

1. 私はラジオを聞きます。
   Watashi wa rajio o kikimasu.
   I listen to the radio.

2. お母さんは味噌を作りますか？
   Okaasan wa miso o tsukurimasu ka?
   Does my mother cook miso?

3. おじいさんはテレビでニュースを見ます。
   Ojiisan wa terebi de nyūsu o mimasu.
   My grandfather watches the news on TV.

4. 本田さんは友達と車を洗います。
   Honda-san wa tomodachi to kuruma o araimasu.
   Mr. Honda washes the car with friends.

Explanation of Sentence Structure

• Subject (Watashi/Okaasan/Ojiisan): The person performing
  the action.
• Particle “wa” (は): Marks the topic of the sentence.
• Object (rajio/miso/nyūsu/kuruma, etc.): The item receiving
  the action.
• Particle “o” (を): Indicates the object of the action.
• Verb (kikimasu/tsukurimasu/mimasu/araimasu): The action
  being performed.

Vocabulary List

Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji	Meaning
私	わたし	Watashi	I
ラジオ	ラジオ	Rajio	Radio
聞きます	ききます	Kikimasu	Listen
お母さん	おかあさん	Okaasan	Mother
味噌	みそ	Miso	Miso soup
作ります	つくります	Tsukurimasu	Make/Cook
おじいさん	おじいさん	Ojiisan	Grandfather
テレビ	テレビ	Terebi	Television
ニュース	ニュース	Nyūsu	News
見ます	みます	Mimasu	Watch
本田さん	ほんださん	Honda-san	Mr. Honda
友達	ともだち	Tomodachi	Friend
車	くるま	Kuruma	Car
洗います	あらいます	Araimasu	Wash

Tips for Learning Transitive Verbs

1. Master the Basic Pattern
   Focus on the
   “Subject + wa + Object + o + Verb” structure to
   understand the foundation of Japanese grammar.

2. Practice Listening and Speaking
   Use online Japanese
   learning platforms, whether free or paid, to improve your listening and
   speaking skills.

3. Apply It in Daily Life
   Create simple sentences like
   “I drink tea” or “She reads a book” to practice new vocabulary.

Practice Exercise

Translate the following sentences into Japanese:

1. I eat sushi.
2. Does he write a letter?
3. My younger sibling reads manga.
4. My friend plays the guitar.

Mastering transitive verbs is a gateway to understanding more complex Japanese
conversations. Through online courses, you can explore many variations of
these sentences for free. Moreover, understanding their meanings accurately is
essential for translating documents or dialogues.

By mastering this pattern, you can take significant steps forward in your
Japanese learning journey. Happy learning, and don’t forget to keep
practicing!