自動詞

See also: 自动词

Chinese

		from; self; oneself from; self; oneself; since	verb
trad. (自動詞)		自	動詞
simp. (自动词)		自	动词

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): zìdòngcí

  (Zhuyin): ㄗˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄘˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): zi⁶ dung⁶ ci⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zìdòngcí
    • Zhuyin: ㄗˋ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄘˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: zìhdòngcíh
    • Wade–Giles: tzŭ⁴-tung⁴-tzʻŭ²
    • Yale: dz̀-dùng-tsź
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tzyhdonqtsyr
    • Palladius: цзыдунцы (czyduncy)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʊŋ⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: zi⁶ dung⁶ ci⁴
    • Yale: jih duhng chìh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: dzi⁶ dung⁶ tsi⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: ji⁶ dung⁶ qi⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡siː²² tʊŋ²² t͡sʰiː²¹/

Noun

自動詞

1. (grammar) intransitive verb

Synonyms

• 不及物動詞／不及物动词 (bùjíwù dòngcí)
• 內動詞／内动词 (nèidòngcí)

Antonyms

• 他動詞／他动词 (tādòngcí)

Japanese

Kanji in this term
自	動	詞
じ Grade: 2	どう Grade: 3	し Grade: 6
on'yomi

Etymology

Compound of 自動 (jidō, “self-moving, self-acting”) +‎ 詞 (shi, “word; part of speech”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) じどーし [jìdóꜜòshì] (Nakadaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑido̞ːɕi]

Noun

自(じ)動(どう)詞(し) • (jidōshi) 

1. (grammar) intransitive verb

Usage notes

The terms transitive and intransitive are somewhat misleading in reference to Japanese. The English terms are generally used to refer to the syntax or structure of a sentence, and whether the verb in the sentence is followed by an object. The Japanese terms refer to the semantics or meaning of the verb, and whether the action of that verb is happening to or upon something else. The Japanese term 自動詞 (jidōshi) literally means “self-acting word”, and 他動詞 (tadōshi) literally means “other-acting word”, in reference to this semantic consideration.

For instance, in English, the verb ate in the simple sentence “I ate” would be considered an intransitive verb, because it is not followed by an object.

However, in the corresponding Japanese, the verb 食べた (tabeta, “ate”) in the simple sentence 私は食べた。 (“Watashi wa tabeta.”) would not be considered a 自動詞 (jidōshi), but would instead be considered a 他動詞 (tadōshi, literally “other-acting word”), as the underlying semantics or meaning of the verb 食べる (taberu, “to eat”) conceptually require an object: when one eats, one eats something, even if left unstated.

This semantic focus is the underlying mechanism by which verbs in sentences like 私は食べた。 (Watashi wa tabeta. - “I ate.”) are still considered 他動詞 (tadōshi, glossed as “transitive”) even when there is no stated object (because the fundamental meaning of the verb implies action by the subject upon something else), and verbs in sentences like 道を歩く。 (Michi o aruku. - “[I] walk the street.”) are still considered 自動詞 (jidōshi, glossed as “intransitive”) even when there is an explicit object marked with the object or accusative particle を (o) (because the fundamental meaning of the verb only implies action by the subject itself in a way that does not affect the noun marked by を).

Related terms

• 動詞(どうし) (dōshi, “verb”)
• 他動詞(たどうし) (tadōshi, “transitive verb”)

References

• 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.

Korean

Hanja in this term
自	動	詞

Noun

自動詞 • (jadongsa) (hangeul 자동사)

1. hanja form^? of 자동사 (“intransitive verb”)

Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term
自	動	詞

Noun

自動詞

1. chữ Hán form of tự động từ (“intransitive verb”).