(Joy entering a room [Hairu] vs. Joy putting a book in a bag [Ireru])
“I enter the room.” vs. “I put the book in the bag.”
They use the same Kanji (入), but the reading and meaning are different. 入る (Hairu) is when you move yourself. 入れる (Ireru) is when you move something else. Let’s master this Transitive/Intransitive pair with Joy and Ken!
🗣 Conversation Scene
Joy is at a cafe, preparing her coffee.
(I “put” sugar “in” my coffee. Because I like it sweet.)
(Ah, look. A new customer just “entered” the shop.)
💡 Explanation
The key difference is “Who/What is moving?”
Point 1: Hairu (入る) = To enter / Go inside
Type: Intransitive (Jidoushi)
The subject moves by itself. You focus on the destination.
Pattern: [Place] に 入る
- 部屋（へや）に 入（はい）る。
(Enter the room.) - お風呂（ふろ）に 入（はい）る。
(Take a bath / Get into the bath.) - スイッチが 入（はい）っている。
(The switch is on. [State])
Point 2: Ireru (入れる) = To put in / Insert
Type: Transitive (Tadoushi)
The subject moves an object into something else.
Pattern: [Object] を [Place] に 入れる
- カバンに 本（ほん）を 入（い）れる。
(Put a book in the bag.) - コーヒーを 入（い）れる。
(Make/Brew coffee. [Put coffee beans/water in]) - スイッチを 入（い）れる。
(Turn on the switch. [Put power in])
📊 Comparison Table
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
(Talking about taking a bath)
❌ Wrong: お風呂（ふろ）を 入（はい）ります。
(You cannot use “Wo” with “Hairu”. It sounds like you are moving the bathtub itself!)
✅ Right: お風呂（ふろ）に 入（はい）ります。
(I enter *into* the bath. Use “Ni” for destination.)
🔥 Practice Quiz
Tap to check the answer!
