Both verbs concern correcting or restoring, but focus on different parts of the event.
The idea
直す is transitive: a person fixes something, marked with を. 直る is intransitive: the thing marked with が returns to its proper state. For example, 自転車を直しました reports the repair; 自転車が直りました reports the result.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| 直す | 自転車を直します |
| 直る | 自転車が直ります |
Examples
- 私は自転車を直しました。I fixed the bicycle.
- 自転車が直りました。The bicycle was fixed.
- 父が時計を直します。My father will fix the clock.
- 時計はもう直りました。The clock is fixed already.
- 間違いを直してください。Please correct the mistake.
- この癖はなかなか直りません。This habit is hard to change.
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Watch out
直る does not say that the thing repaired itself; someone may have fixed it. It is not the passive 直される. The pair also applies to mistakes and habits.
Try it yourself
私は自転車を＿＿。（直しました／直りました）
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直しました
直しました goes with 自転車を: the speaker repaired the bicycle.
時計が＿＿。（直しました／直りました）
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直りました
直りました describes the clock returning to working order, with 時計が as subject.
間違いを＿＿ください。（直して／直って）
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直して
直して is the て-form of transitive 直す; it completes the request to correct the mistake.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
私は自転車を＿＿。（直しました／直りました）
時計が＿＿。（直しました／直りました）
間違いを＿＿ください。（直して／直って）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe who repaired an object, then say that it is fixed. Choose the forms in the three sentences.