目錄
The difference between Japanese volitional and non-volitional verbs is not simply a matter of dividing verbs into two categories. It is about whether a sentence presents something as “an action someone intentionally performs” or simply as “something that happens.” In “店員がドアを開ける,” someone actively opens the door, while “ドアが開く” simply describes the door opening. The difference may seem small, but it directly affects which grammar patterns sound natural with expressions such as “〜たい,” “〜ために,” and “〜ように.” What makes things more complicated is that volitionality is not always permanently fixed for each verb. A verb such as “忘れる,” for example, can describe an accidental event in one context and a desired outcome in another. The more useful question is whether the subject can treat the event as a conscious choice in that particular sentence.
What Are Volitional and Non-Volitional Verbs in Japanese? Understanding the Basic Difference Through Control
A Japanese volitional verb describes an action that the subject can consciously perform, such as “食べる,” “書く,” “話す,” and “開ける.” The subject can usually decide whether to perform the action, when to begin it, and how to carry it out. For this reason, these verbs combine naturally with expressions of desire, commands, invitations, and intention.
Non-volitional verbs, on the other hand, commonly describe natural phenomena, physical reactions, psychological changes, sensory results, and events that are difficult to control directly. Examples include “雨が降る,” “花が咲く,” “山が見える,” “声が聞こえる,” and “意味が分かる.” These sentences generally do not portray the subject as an active agent. Instead, they describe a result or change that comes about naturally.
One of the clearest ways to see the difference is through transitive–intransitive pairs such as “開ける／開く.” “窓を開ける” means that someone intentionally opens the window, while “窓が開く” places the change happening to the window itself at the center of the sentence.
- Example: 毎朝、窓を開けて空気を入れます。
Kana: まいあさ、まどをあけてくうきをいれます。
Translation: Every morning, I open the window to let some fresh air in.
“開ける” describes someone deliberately operating the window. Whether to open it is under the control of the person performing the action, so this use is clearly volitional. - Example: 春になると、庭の花が咲きます。
Kana: はるになると、にわのはながさきます。
Translation: When spring comes, the flowers in the garden bloom.
“咲く” describes a natural change in plants. Flowers do not begin blooming because they consciously decide to do so, so this verb is generally treated as non-volitional. - Example: ここからは富士山がよく見えます。
Kana: ここからはふじさんがよくみえます。
Translation: You can see Mount Fuji clearly from here.
“見える” means that Mount Fuji naturally enters the field of vision, unlike “見る,” which describes intentionally directing one’s eyes toward something.
How Do You Identify Volitional Verbs in Japanese? Using Control and Context to Distinguish Non-Volitional Verbs
When deciding whether a verb is volitional or non-volitional, relying only on its English meaning can easily lead to mistakes. A more practical method is to place the verb in a complete sentence and ask whether the subject is consciously performing the event and whether expressions of desire, commands, or intention can naturally follow.
| Question to Ask | More Likely Volitional | More Likely Non-Volitional |
|---|---|---|
| Can the subject decide when to start or stop? | 食べる、話す、開ける | 降る、咲く、見える |
| Can it naturally express “decide to do”? | 行くことにする、勉強することにする | △ 雨が降ることにする |
| Can it naturally form a command? | 見てください、座ってください | △ 見えてください、分かってください |
| What does the event mainly describe? | An action performed by the subject | A natural change, psychological result, or sensory result |
| Is the classification completely fixed? | No. Some verbs change depending on context | No. The actual sentence still matters |
Volitional verbs are not limited to human beings. A dog can intentionally run over to someone, and a cat can choose to eat something, so verbs such as “走る” and “食べる” can still be volitional. Conversely, even when the grammatical subject is a person, the verb may be non-volitional, as in “驚く,” “困る,” “眠くなる,” or “病気になる.”
It is even more important to recognize that some verbs can work in both directions. In “財布を忘れた,” “忘れる” usually describes an unintentional event because nobody deliberately decides to leave their wallet behind. In “嫌なことは早く忘れたい,” however, the speaker treats “忘れる” as a desired state and can naturally attach “〜たい.”
Volitionality Is Not a Fixed Category: How to Interpret “忘れる” and “落とす” in Context
A verb’s volitionality is not always an unchanging dictionary classification. The actual way the event is presented in the sentence matters. Verbs such as “落とす,” “忘れる,” and “なくす” are particularly sensitive to context.
- Example: 電車の中に傘を忘れてしまいました。
Kana: でんしゃのなかにかさをわすれてしまいました。
Translation: I accidentally left my umbrella on the train.
“忘れる” is not an intentional action here. It describes an accidental outcome and therefore does not show clear volitionality. - Example: あの失敗は早く忘れたいです。
Kana: あのしっぱいははやくわすれたいです。
Translation: I want to forget that failure as soon as possible.
Here, “忘れる” is reinterpreted as a state the speaker hopes to achieve, so “忘れたい” is completely natural. - Example: 彼はわざとコップを床に落とした。
Kana: かれはわざとコップをゆかにおとした。
Translation: He deliberately dropped the glass on the floor.
“落とす” often appears in situations where someone drops something by accident, but adding “わざと” makes the event clearly intentional.
When a verb is difficult to classify, it is therefore more useful to ask “Is the person in this sentence deliberately doing this?” than to ask “Which category does this word belong to?”
How Do Volitional and Non-Volitional Verbs Work with “〜たい,” “〜ために,” and “〜ように”?
The practical difference between volitional and non-volitional verbs becomes especially important with expressions of desire and purpose. “〜たい” most commonly combines with actions the subject can intentionally carry out. When expressing purpose, “〜ために” tends to describe an objective the subject directly pursues, while “〜ように” is frequently used for abilities, possibilities, negative outcomes to avoid, or results the speaker hopes to bring about.
These rules are useful as general guidelines, but they should not be treated as formulas with absolutely no exceptions. Japanese can change the choice of expression depending on how the speaker conceptualizes the event.
Volitional Verb Use ①｜Using “〜たい” for Something the Subject Wants to Do Personally
“〜たい” places the speaker’s desire directly on the verb, so it combines most naturally with actions that have clear volitionality. “食べたい,” “行きたい,” “話したい,” and “休みたい” all express a desire to personally carry out an action.
Natural phenomena that cannot be controlled by the subject are not usually expressed this way. If someone wants the weather to clear up, for example, “晴れてほしい” is normally used rather than “晴れたい.” However, some psychological or state-like verbs that tend to be non-volitional can still take “〜たい” if the sentence reinterprets them as states the speaker hopes to achieve.
- Example: 週末は友達と映画を見に行きたいです。
Kana: しゅうまつはともだちとえいがをみにいきたいです。
Translation: I want to go see a movie with my friends this weekend.
“行く” describes an action the subject can arrange and carry out, so attaching “〜たい” is completely natural. - Example: もっと自然な日本語を話したいです。
Kana: もっとしぜんなにほんごをはなしたいです。
Translation: I want to speak more natural Japanese.
“話す” is an action the subject can actively perform, so the desire can be expressed directly with “話したい.” - Example: この言葉の本当の意味が分かりたいです。
Kana: このことばのほんとうのいみがわかりたいです。
Translation: I want to understand the true meaning of this word.
“分かる” normally describes the result of understanding, but “分かりたい” treats understanding as a state the speaker wants to achieve. This is another reason volitionality cannot be judged from a fixed vocabulary list alone.
Volitional Verb Use ②｜Using “〜ために” for a Purpose the Subject Directly Intends to Carry Out
The purpose expression “〜ために” usually places an intentionally pursued objective before it. In the structure AためにB, the relationship is “in order to accomplish A, the subject does B,” so A generally has a relatively high degree of control.
“日本へ留学するために、お金を貯める” is a typical example. Studying abroad is a goal the subject has set, while saving money is an intentional action carried out in order to achieve that goal.
- Example: 日本で働くために、日本語を勉強しています。
Kana: にほんではたらくために、にほんごをべんきょうしています。
Translation: I am studying Japanese in order to work in Japan.
“日本で働く” is an action goal established by the subject, so “〜ために” sounds natural. - Example: 朝早く起きるために、十一時までには寝ます。
Kana: あさはやくおきるために、じゅういちじまでにはねます。
Translation: I go to bed by eleven so that I can get up early in the morning.
In this context, waking up early is treated as an intentionally planned goal, so “〜ために” can be used. - Example: 資格を取るために、毎晩二時間勉強しています。
Kana: しかくをとるために、まいばんにじかんべんきょうしています。
Translation: I study for two hours every evening in order to earn the qualification.
Obtaining the qualification is a clearly defined purpose, while the second clause describes the specific action taken to achieve it.
Non-Volitional Verb Use｜Using “〜ように” for a Desired Result, Ability, or Something You Want to Prevent
The purpose use of “〜ように” commonly appears after non-volitional verbs, potential forms, and negative forms. The first clause usually describes something that cannot simply be accomplished directly through an act of will. Instead, the speaker takes another action in the second clause in hopes of making that result possible.
For example, “忘れないようにメモする” does not mean the speaker can directly control the state of “not forgetting.” Instead, taking notes reduces the possibility of forgetting. Likewise, “聞き取れるように練習する” does not mean the speaker can instantly command themselves to gain the ability to understand speech. Practice is used to gradually reach that state.
- Example: 忘れないように、予定をカレンダーに入れておきます。
Kana: わすれないように、よていをカレンダーにいれておきます。
Translation: I’ll put the appointment in my calendar so I don’t forget it.
“忘れない” is the result the speaker wants to maintain, while recording the schedule is an action taken to reduce the possibility of forgetting. - Example: 日本語が聞き取れるように、毎日短いニュースを聞いています。
Kana: にほんごがききとれるように、まいにちみじかいニュースをきいています。
Translation: I listen to short news clips every day so that I can understand spoken Japanese.
The potential form “聞き取れる” describes an ability the speaker hopes to acquire, so “〜ように” is more natural than “〜ために.” - Example: 子どもにも分かるように、簡単な言葉で説明しました。
Kana: こどもにもわかるように、かんたんなことばでせつめいしました。
Translation: I explained it in simple words so that even children could understand.
Whether the listener ultimately understands is not completely under the speaker’s control, so the first clause describes a desired result.
Difference Between Japanese “〜ために” and “〜ように”: Using Volitionality to Choose a Purpose Expression
Both “〜ために” and “〜ように” can be translated as “in order to” or “so that,” but the main difference is whether the first clause is treated as an objective the subject directly intends to carry out or as a result the subject hopes to bring about through some other action.
| Point of Comparison | “〜ために” | “〜ように” |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | A purpose directly set by the subject | A desired result or state |
| Common form before it | Volitional verb | Non-volitional verb, potential form, negative form |
| Degree of control | Usually higher | Usually lower |
| Common example | 留学するために勉強する | 合格できるように勉強する |
| Common English translation | In order to do… | So that one can…／so as not to… |
Difference Between “留学するために” and “留学できるように”: Planned Purpose vs. Ability or Conditions
“留学するために” treats studying abroad as an already established objective. “留学できるように,” on the other hand, focuses on obtaining the conditions that will make studying abroad possible. Both sentences can involve preparation, but they conceptualize the goal differently.
✅ 日本へ留学するために、お金を貯めています。
I am saving money in order to study abroad in Japan.
“留学する” is treated as a plan the subject has decided to carry out.
✅ 日本へ留学できるように、お金を貯めています。
I am saving money so that I will be able to study abroad in Japan.
“留学できる” emphasizes whether the necessary conditions will allow studying abroad to become possible.
Difference Between “忘れないように” and “忘れないために”: Which Is More Natural?
“忘れないように” is the most natural and typical expression because whether someone forgets something is not completely under direct control. “忘れないために” can also appear in actual Japanese, but it sounds more like treating “not forgetting” as an explicit purpose, so its range of use does not completely overlap with “ように.”
✅ 忘れないように、メモしておきます。
I’ll make a note so that I don’t forget.
In ordinary everyday situations, this type of preventive purpose is most commonly expressed with “〜ように.”
Why Do Potential Forms Commonly Take “〜ように”? Understanding Purpose Through “話せるように”
When you want to say “so that I can read,” “so that I can speak,” or “so that I can buy something,” the first clause describes an ability or possibility. For this reason, “〜ように” is generally used.
△ 日本語が話せるために、毎日練習しています。
✅ 日本語が話せるように、毎日練習しています。
I practice every day so that I can speak Japanese.
The goal here is not simply to “perform the action of speaking Japanese.” It is to acquire the ability to speak Japanese, so “〜ように” is more natural.
Does “〜ている” Mean an Action in Progress or a Resulting State? Using Verb Type to Decide
“〜ている” often draws attention to differences between volitional verbs and verbs of state change, but whether it means “an action in progress” or “a resulting state” is not determined by volitionality alone. The verb itself also matters: does it describe an ongoing action, an instantaneous change, or a state?
“話している” and “読んでいる” easily describe actions currently in progress, while “ドアが開いている” and “電気が消えている” describe changes that have already occurred and whose resulting states are still continuing.
“〜ている” Use ①｜Ongoing Actions Mean “Be Doing”
When the verb itself describes an activity that continues over a period of time, “〜ている” easily expresses an action currently in progress. Common examples include “読む,” “話す,” “食べる,” and “勉強する.”
- Example: 田中さんは今、電話で話しています。
Kana: たなかさんはいま、でんわではなしています。
Translation: Tanaka is talking on the phone right now.
“話す” can continue for a period of time, so “話している” describes the speaking activity as currently in progress. - Example: 弟は部屋で本を読んでいます。
Kana: おとうとはへやでほんをよんでいます。
Translation: My younger brother is reading a book in his room.
Reading is an ongoing activity, so this is naturally understood as “is reading.” - Example: 今、晩ご飯を作っています。
Kana: いま、ばんごはんをつくっています。
Translation: I’m making dinner right now.
Cooking has a clear process, so “〜ている” indicates that the process is still underway.
“〜ている” Use ②｜Change-of-State Verbs Describe the State Remaining After the Change
Verbs such as “開く,” “閉まる,” “消える,” and “壊れる” describe a change of state. When these verbs take “〜ている,” they commonly indicate that the change has already occurred and that the resulting state remains.
- Example: 入口のドアが開いています。
Kana: いりぐちのドアがあいています。
Translation: The entrance door is open.
The change expressed by “開く” has already taken place, and the door is currently remaining in the open state. - Example: 会議室の電気が消えています。
Kana: かいぎしつのでんきがきえています。
Translation: The lights in the meeting room are off.
“消える” describes the light changing from on to off, while “消えている” describes the current state after the light has gone out. - Example: スマホの画面が割れています。
Kana: スマホのがめんがわれています。
Translation: The phone screen is cracked.
The cracking event has already happened, and the screen remains cracked now.
“〜ている” Use ③｜You Cannot Decide Between “In Progress” and “State” Based on Volitionality Alone
Some volitional verbs also form resulting-state meanings with “〜ている.” For example, “眼鏡をかけている” does not mean someone is currently performing the action of putting on glasses. It means they have already put them on and are currently wearing them. Therefore, “volitional verb＝action in progress” and “non-volitional verb＝resulting state” may be useful as an introductory tendency, but they are not complete rules.
- Example: 今日は眼鏡をかけています。
Kana: きょうはめがねをかけています。
Translation: I’m wearing glasses today.
“かける” can describe an intentional action, but “かけている” here describes the continuing state after putting the glasses on. - Example: 窓を開けています。
Kana: まどをあけています。
Translation: I’m keeping the window open.
Depending on context, this can mean that someone is intentionally maintaining the window in an open state rather than actively performing the action of opening it. - Example: 田中さんを知っています。
Kana: たなかさんをしっています。
Translation: I know Tanaka.
“知っている” is a fixed state expression and cannot be interpreted literally as “currently knowing.”
Does “Volitional Verb” Mean “Transitive Verb”? Comparing Two Different Japanese Verb Classifications
“Volitional／non-volitional” and “transitive／intransitive” are two different ways of classifying Japanese verbs. The first concerns whether the event is intentionally controlled by the subject, while the second concerns the syntactic relationship between the verb, subject, object, and particles.
For this reason, memorizing “transitive verb＝volitional verb” and “intransitive verb＝non-volitional verb” easily leads to mistakes. “開ける” is indeed both transitive and commonly volitional, while “開く” is often both intransitive and non-volitional. However, verbs such as “走る,” “休む,” and “出かける” are intransitive while still being clearly volitional.
| Point of Comparison | Volitional／Non-Volitional Verbs | Transitive／Intransitive Verbs |
|---|---|---|
| What is being judged? | Whether the subject can consciously control the event | How the verb relates syntactically to the subject and object |
| Main question | Is someone actively doing it, or is it happening naturally? | Does something marked by が undergo a change, or does someone act on an object marked by を? |
| Common contrast | 見る／見える | 開ける／開く |
| Do the categories directly correspond? | No | No |
Difference Between “開ける／開く”: How Transitivity Relates to Volitionality
“開ける” is a transitive verb and requires someone to act on an object, as in “ドアを開ける.” “開く” is intransitive and describes the change “ドアが開く.”
- Example: 店員がドアを開けました。
Kana: てんいんがドアをあけました。
Translation: The staff member opened the door.
“開ける” has both a transitive structure and clear volitionality. - Example: ドアが自動で開きました。
Kana: ドアがじどうであきました。
Translation: The door opened automatically.
“開く” describes the change happening to the door itself, with no person placed in the role of an active operator.
Why Is “走る” Both an Intransitive Verb and a Volitional Verb?
Being intransitive does not mean an event must happen naturally. “走る,” “泳ぐ,” “休む,” and “出かける” do not take direct objects, but the subject can still decide whether to perform the action.
- Example: 毎朝、公園を走っています。
Kana: まいあさ、こうえんをはしっています。
Translation: I run in the park every morning.
“走る” is intransitive, but the person can decide when to begin or stop running, so the verb is volitional.
Difference Between “壊す／壊れる”: A Transitive Verb Is Not Automatically Volitional
“壊れる” describes something breaking and usually does not require the sentence to identify anyone who intentionally caused the damage, so it commonly presents a non-volitional change. “壊す” puts an actor back into the sentence, but whether the action was actually intentional still depends on context.
- Example: パソコンが突然壊れました。
Kana: パソコンがとつぜんこわれました。
Translation: The computer suddenly broke.
The sentence simply describes the computer malfunctioning, with no active operator involved. - Example: 子どもがおもちゃを壊してしまいました。
Kana: こどもがおもちゃをこわしてしまいました。
Translation: The child broke the toy.
“壊す” is transitive, but when combined with “〜てしまう,” the sentence can imply that the result was accidental. Transitivity alone therefore does not guarantee volitionality.
Difference Between Japanese “見る／見える” and “聞く／聞こえる”: Intentional Perception vs. Natural Perception
“見る／見える” and “聞く／聞こえる” are classic pairs for understanding volitionality in Japanese. English often uses “see” and “hear” broadly, but Japanese distinguishes active perception from something naturally entering the senses.
“見る” means deliberately directing one’s eyes toward something, while “見える” means that something naturally becomes visible. “聞く” can mean intentionally listening or asking, while “聞こえる” means that a sound naturally reaches the ears.
Difference Between “見る／見える”: Intentionally Looking vs. Naturally Being Able to See
- Example: 今夜、家で映画を見ます。
Kana: こんや、いえでえいがをみます。
Translation: I’m going to watch a movie at home tonight.
“見る” is an intentional visual action. The subject can decide what to watch and when to watch it. - Example: ホテルの部屋から海が見えます。
Kana: ホテルのへやからうみがみえます。
Translation: You can see the ocean from the hotel room.
“見える” describes the scenery naturally becoming visible because of the location and viewing conditions, without requiring deliberate observation. - Example: もっとよく見えるように、前の席に座りました。
Kana: もっとよくみえるように、まえのせきにすわりました。
Translation: I sat in a front seat so that I could see better.
“見える” describes the visual result the speaker hopes to achieve, so it combines naturally with the purpose use of “〜ように.”
Difference Between “聞く／聞こえる”: Intentionally Listening vs. Sound Naturally Reaching You
- Example: 毎朝、日本語のニュースを聞いています。
Kana: まいあさ、にほんごのニュースをきいています。
Translation: I listen to Japanese news every morning.
“聞く” means the subject intentionally chooses something to listen to. - Example: 外から子どもの声が聞こえます。
Kana: そとからこどものこえがきこえます。
Translation: I can hear children’s voices outside.
“聞こえる” does not require deliberately focusing on the sound. The sound naturally reaches the listener’s ears. - Example: 後ろの人にも聞こえるように、大きな声で話してください。
Kana: うしろのひとにもきこえるように、おおきなこえではなしてください。
Translation: Please speak loudly so that the people in the back can hear you too.
“聞こえる” describes the desired result of being audible, so “〜ように” is used to establish the conditions that will make that result possible.
Volitional and Non-Volitional Verbs in Everyday Japanese: How to Use “〜たい,” “〜ために,” and “〜ように”
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers rarely stop to consciously ask themselves whether a verb is volitional or non-volitional before speaking. The distinction usually appears indirectly through grammar. When intentionally planning something, expressions such as “〜たい” and “〜ために” are common. When describing an ability or result the speaker hopes to achieve, “〜ように,” “見える,” and “聞こえる” are more likely to appear.
Scenario ①｜Planning How to Practice Japanese
A：日本語のドラマを字幕なしで見たいんです。
にほんごのドラマをじまくなしでみたいんです。
I want to watch Japanese dramas without subtitles.
B：内容が聞き取れるように、短い動画から練習するといいですよ。
ないようがききとれるように、みじかいどうがかられんしゅうするといいですよ。
You could start practicing with short videos so that you can gradually understand what you hear.
📌 Grammar Point: A uses “見る,” an intentional action, so it naturally takes “〜たい.” B uses the potential form “聞き取れる,” which describes an ability the learner hopes to develop gradually through practice, so “〜ように” is used.
Scenario ②｜Checking Why a Store Door Is Open
A：まだ開店前なのに、ドアが開いていますね。
まだかいてんまえなのに、ドアがあいていますね。
The door is open even though the store hasn’t opened yet.
B：店員さんが荷物を入れるために開けたみたいです。
てんいんさんがにもつをいれるためにあけたみたいです。
It looks like a staff member opened it to bring some things inside.
📌 Grammar Point: A’s “開いている” describes the door’s current resulting state, while B’s “開けた” places the staff member back in the role of the person intentionally operating the door. The two sentences clearly show the difference in perspective between “開く” and “開ける.”
Scenario ③｜Hearing Music Outside a Hotel Room
A：外から音楽が聞こえますね。
そとからおんがくがきこえますね。
You can hear music coming from outside.
B：近くでイベントをやっているみたいですよ。少し見に行きますか。
ちかくでイベントをやっているみたいですよ。すこしみにいきますか。
It sounds like there’s an event nearby. Shall we go take a look?
📌 Grammar Point: A’s “聞こえる” describes sound naturally entering the ears. B’s “見に行く,” on the other hand, describes an intentional decision to go and watch something. The two sentences respectively show non-volitional perception and volitional action.
Cultural Notes:
- Japanese textbooks often use the distinction between volitional and non-volitional verbs to explain grammar such as “〜ために” and “〜ように,” but actual language use is more flexible than a simple binary classification. Verbs such as “忘れる” and “落とす” can change depending on words such as “わざと” or “うっかり” and on the broader context, so memorizing a fixed category for every verb is not enough.
- “見える” and “聞こえる” are extremely common in Japanese because they allow the sentence to remove the speaker from the role of an intentional agent and simply describe the sensory conditions of the moment. “富士山が見える” and “音が聞こえる” describe what the environment makes perceptible.
- The meaning of “〜ている” also cannot be determined from volitionality alone. Whether the verb describes an ongoing activity, an instantaneous change, or a state often has a more direct effect on whether “〜ている” means “be doing” or “be in a resulting state.”
How Do Japanese Volitional and Non-Volitional Verbs Compare with Korean Volitional and Non-Volitional Verbs?
Korean also distinguishes between volitional and non-volitional verbs. The general principle is very similar to Japanese: actions that the subject can consciously choose have greater volitionality, while natural phenomena, sensory results, and changes that cannot be directly controlled tend to be non-volitional.
The two languages also show similar tendencies in purpose expressions. Japanese “〜ために” often describes an objective directly set by the subject, while Korean can use “-기 위해(서).” When Japanese “〜ように” expresses the hope that a particular result will become possible, Korean often uses “-도록” depending on context. However, the two languages do not have exactly identical ranges of use, so actual translation still depends on the meaning of the full sentence.
◆ Similar Expression ①: Korean “-고 싶다”
Korean “-고 싶다” and Japanese “〜たい” are both commonly used to express something the speaker personally wants to do, so they combine most naturally with actions that have clear volitionality. The preceding verb usually describes something the subject can choose whether to perform, such as watching a movie, traveling, or eating something.
- Example: 주말에 친구와 영화를 보고 싶어요.
Romanization: ju-mal-e chin-gu-wa yeong-hwa-reul bo-go si-peo-yo.
Translation: I want to watch a movie with my friend this weekend.
“보다” here describes intentional viewing, which is close in volitionality to Japanese “映画を見たい.” - Example: 다음 휴가에는 제주도에 가고 싶어요.
Romanization: da-eum hyu-ga-e-neun je-ju-do-e ga-go si-peo-yo.
Translation: I want to go to Jeju Island on my next vacation.
“가다” describes movement the subject can consciously decide to carry out, so attaching “-고 싶다” directly expresses desire, much like Japanese “済州島に行きたい.” - Example: 오늘은 따뜻한 국수를 먹고 싶어요.
Romanization: o-neul-eun tta-tteut-han guk-su-reul meok-go si-peo-yo.
Translation: I want to eat some hot noodles today.
“먹다” is an action the subject can intentionally perform, so “먹고 싶다” directly expresses the desire to eat something, similar to Japanese “温かい麺を食べたい.”
◆ Similar Expression ②: Korean “-기 위해(서)”
“-기 위해(서)” commonly expresses performing one action in order to accomplish a clearly defined objective, making it similar to the purpose use of Japanese “〜ために.” The first clause usually describes a goal established by the subject, while the second describes the preparation or action carried out to achieve it.
- Example: 일본에서 일하기 위해 일본어를 공부하고 있어요.
Romanization: il-bon-e-seo il-ha-gi wi-hae il-bon-eo-reul gong-bu-ha-go i-sseo-yo.
Translation: I am studying Japanese in order to work in Japan.
“일하다” is an action goal set by the subject, making the structure close to Japanese “日本で働くために、日本語を勉強している.” - Example: 시험에 합격하기 위해 매일 두 시간씩 공부해요.
Romanization: si-heom-e hap-gyeok-ha-gi wi-hae mae-il du si-gan-ssik gong-bu-hae-yo.
Translation: I study for two hours every day in order to pass the exam.
“합격하다” is treated as a clearly defined objective, while studying is the action taken to achieve it. The logic is similar to Japanese “試験に合格するために、毎日勉強する.” - Example: 예약한 식당에 늦지 않기 위해 일찍 출발했어요.
Romanization: ye-yak-han sik-dang-e neut-ji an-gi wi-hae il-jjik chul-bal-hae-sseo-yo.
Translation: I left early so that I wouldn’t be late for the restaurant reservation.
Here, “not being late” is treated as a clearly defined objective, so “-기 위해” can be used. This is similar to Japanese “予約した店に遅れないために、早く出発した.”
◆ Similar Expression ③: Korean “-도록”
Korean “-도록” can express bringing about a certain result or preventing a certain result from occurring, making it similar in many contexts to the purpose use of Japanese “〜ように.” The two expressions are especially similar when the first clause describes an ability, possibility, or negative result that cannot be accomplished directly through will alone.
- Example: 한국어 뉴스 내용을 알아들을 수 있도록 매일 짧은 영상을 봐요.
Romanization: han-guk-eo nyu-seu nae-yong-eul a-ra-deu-reul su it-do-rok mae-il jjal-beun yeong-sang-eul bwa-yo.
Translation: I watch short videos every day so that I can understand Korean news.
“알아들을 수 있도록” treats “being able to understand” as an ability that the learner hopes to gradually acquire, similar to Japanese “韓国語のニュースが聞き取れるように.” - Example: 잊어버리지 않도록 휴대폰에 메모해 뒀어요.
Romanization: i-jeo-beo-ri-ji an-to-rok hyu-dae-pon-e me-mo-hae dwot-sseo-yo.
Translation: I made a note on my phone so that I wouldn’t forget.
“잊어버리지 않도록” describes the desired result of avoiding forgetting, making it very close to Japanese “忘れないように、スマホにメモしておいた.” - Example: 뒤에 있는 사람도 잘 들을 수 있도록 큰 소리로 말해 주세요.
Romanization: dwi-e it-neun sa-ram-do jal deu-reul su it-do-rok keun so-ri-ro mal-hae ju-se-yo.
Translation: Please speak loudly so that the people in the back can hear you too.
“들을 수 있도록” describes the desired result that the people in the back will be able to hear, so the speaker adjusts the volume. This is similar to Japanese “後ろの人にも聞こえるように、大きな声で話してください.”
◆ Core Differences from Japanese Volitional and Non-Volitional Verbs:
Both Japanese and Korean are influenced by the volitionality of verbs, but Japanese “〜ために＝-기 위해서” and “〜ように＝-도록” should not be treated as fixed translation formulas. The way the speaker conceptualizes the same event can still change which expression is chosen. It is more accurate to first determine whether the sentence describes an intentional purpose, an ability or result, or a natural change, and only then decide how the two languages correspond.
The most practical way to distinguish volitional and non-volitional verbs in Japanese is not to memorize which verbs permanently belong to which group, but to look at who is doing what in the sentence and whether that event can be consciously controlled. Pairs such as “開ける／開く,” “見る／見える,” and “聞く／聞こえる” make this distinction especially clear. When you encounter “〜たい,” “〜ために,” and “〜ように,” consider control, ability, and results together within the actual context rather than applying English expressions such as “want to” or “in order to” mechanically. With “〜ている” and transitive–intransitive distinctions, verb type and syntax also matter, so not everything needs to be forced into the single category of volitionality.
FAQ
Volitional verbs describe actions the subject can consciously perform, while non-volitional verbs more often describe natural changes, sensory experiences, psychological reactions, or results that cannot be directly controlled. For example, “窓を開ける” means someone intentionally opens the window, while “窓が開く” simply describes the change of the window opening.
Not completely. Some verbs have strong tendencies, but their actual volitionality can still change depending on context. For example, “財布を忘れた” normally describes an unintentional event, while “嫌な記憶を忘れたい” treats “忘れる” as a state the speaker hopes to achieve, so “〜たい” can be used naturally.
Its most typical use is indeed with volitional actions such as “食べたい,” “行きたい,” and “話したい,” but this is not an absolute restriction. Expressions such as “分かりたい” and “忘れたい” are also possible because the sentence reinterprets a normally result-oriented verb as a state the speaker wants to achieve.
“〜ために” usually treats the first clause as an objective the subject directly establishes and pursues, as in “留学するために勉強する.” The purpose use of “〜ように,” meanwhile, commonly appears with potential forms, negative forms, and results with lower volitionality, as in “忘れないようにメモする” and “聞き取れるように練習する.” This is a very useful guideline, but the meaning of the complete sentence still needs to be considered.
No. Volitionality alone is not enough. “読んでいる” describes an ongoing reading activity, while “ドアが開いている” describes a door that has already opened and remains open. However, “眼鏡をかけている” uses the volitional verb “かける” while still describing the resulting state of wearing glasses. To interpret “〜ている,” you also need to consider whether the verb itself describes an ongoing action, a state, or an instantaneous change.