The Difference Between「入る」と「入れる」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)

(Cat going into a box [Hairu] vs. Joy putting her bag in a locker [Ireru])

“The cat goes into the box.” (Neko ga hairu)
“I put the bag into the locker.” (Kaban o ireru)
Welcome back to the world of Intransitive and Transitive verbs! 入る (Hairu) is used when something enters or fits into a space by itself. 入れる (Ireru) is used when YOU intentionally put something inside. Let’s learn the particle rules with Joy and Ken.

🗣 Conversation Scene

Joy is trying to use a coin locker at the train station.

Joy

ケンさん、見てください！私の大きいカバンが、このロッカーに入（い）れますよ！
(Ken, look! My big bag “puts into” this locker!)

Ken

Joyさん、カバンは自分で動けませんよ(笑)。
カバンが「入（はい）ります（Fits）」ですね。
または、Joyさんがカバンを「入（い）れます（Put in）」です！
(Joy, the bag can’t move by itself haha. The bag “Hairimasu (Fits/Goes in)”. Or, you “Iremasu (Put in)” the bag!)

💡 Explanation

Entering vs. Inserting

1. 入る (Hairu) = To enter / To fit

Type: Intransitive (Subject moves/fits inside)
Used when a person or thing moves into a space, or when something is small enough to fit inside a container. Use the particle GA for the subject, and NI for the destination.

部屋（へや）に入る。
(I enter the room.)
お風呂（ふろ）に入る。
(I take a bath. *Literally: I enter the bath*)
カバンがロッカーに入る。
(The bag fits in the locker.)

2. 入れる (Ireru) = To put in / To insert

Type: Transitive (I put it in)
Used when YOU actively place an object inside something else. Use the particle O for the object you are holding, and NI for the destination.

カバンをロッカーに入れる。
(I put the bag into the locker.)
コーヒーに砂糖（さとう）を入れる。
(I put sugar into the coffee.)
コーヒーを入れる。
(I make/pour coffee. *Special idiom!*)

📊 Comparison Table

Word	Meaning	Grammar Structure
入る (Hairu)	Enter / Fit	[Subject] ga [Place] ni Hairu
入れる (Ireru)	Put in / Insert	[Object] o [Place] ni Ireru

🚧 Joy’s Mistake

(Joy wants to invite Ken for coffee)

❌ Wrong: 私がコーヒーを 入（はい）ります！
(Nuance: “I will enter the coffee!” Are you going to shrink and dive into the mug?!)

✅ Right: 私がコーヒーを 入（い）れます！
(Nuance: “I will make/pour the coffee!” To make tea or coffee is expressed as “Ocha/Koohii o ireru”.)

🔥 Practice Quiz

Tap to check the answer!

Q1. Let’s enter the cafe.
(Kafe ni ______.)

Answer: hairimashou (入りましょう)
You are moving yourself into a space (Intransitive).

Q2. I will put milk into the tea.
(Koucha ni miruku o ______.)

Answer: iremasu (入れます)
You are performing the action of putting an object inside (Transitive).

Q3. This box is too small. The shoes don’t fit.
(Kutsu ga ______.)

Answer: hairimasen (入りません)
Talking about whether an object physically fits/enters by its size.

Keep practicing with JPLT!