Did you know what transitive and intransitive verbs are? While we have a few in English, there are many in Japanese. So many that it’s important to get comfortable using them as early as possible.
Please let me know if you’re interested in a more in-depth lesson on transitive and intransitive verbs in the comments!
What’s the Japanese word for “to open”?
There are two words: aku, and akeru.
The transitive verb is akeru.
The intransitive verb is aku.
The kanji, it’s meaning, and it’s reading in hiragana
We can spell both aku and akeru using this kanji : 開
We can read “aku” using hiragana like this: あく.
We can read “akeru” using hiragana like this: あける.
Let’s try using あく・開く・aku in a sentence!
Let’s try translating this sentence into Japanese:
The door is open.
First in romaji
Doa ga aiteimasu.
Now with hiragana
ドア が あいています。
Now let’s add in the kanji!
ドア が 開いています。
Note: We use the teiru・ている form in this sentence to show that the door is in a state of being open.
Let’s try translating another sentence:
Please open the door
First in romaji
Doa o akete kudasai.
Now with hiragana
ドア を あけて ください。
Now let’s add in the kanji!
ドア を 開けて ください。
Let’s try translating one more sentence:
Is that store still open?
First in romaji
Ano mise wa mada aiteimasuka?
Now with hiragana
あの みせ は まだ あいていますか？
Now let’s add in the kanji!
あの 店 は まだ 開いていますか？
Note: We can also use this to mean “still in business” in this scenario, however there are more appropriate words that we can use. (We’ll be learning them at a later date!)
How about:
I left my fridge door open this morning… (this one is a challenging one!)
First in romaji
Asa wa reizouko no doa o akeppanashi ni shite shimaimashita
Now with hiragana
あさ は れいぞうこ の ドア を あけっぱなし に して しまいました。
Now let’s add in the kanji!
朝 は 冷蔵庫 の ドア を 開けっぱなし に して しまいました。
And that’s あく・あける!
Was my post helpful? I hope you learnt something! If you want to support me so that I can continue to share my love of all things shoujo, you can always buy me a coffee!
Maddies Manga 
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