Antonym：たつ(tatsu) vs. すわる(suwaru)

たつ (立つ, tatsu) and すわる (座る, suwaru) are fundamental antonyms that describe two of the most common physical positions in daily life — standing and sitting. These verbs come up constantly in Japanese: at school, in the office, on public transport, and when following instructions. This guide covers their meanings, conjugation, usage contexts, and how they combine with other grammar patterns.

Yuka

Quick question, Rei — when should I use tatsu versus suwaru?

Rei

Ah, a classic mix-up! They’re related but definitely not interchangeable. I’ll explain with examples and it’ll make perfect sense.

At a Glance: たつ vs すわる

たつ (立つ) — To Stand / Stand Up

たつ describes the state of being on one’s feet or the action of rising to a standing position. It is an intransitive verb — it does not take a direct object.

Example sentence 1:

電車の中でずっと立っていました。
Densha no naka de zutto tatte imashita.
I was standing the whole time on the train.

Example sentence 2:

先生が入ってきたとき、みんな立ちました。
Sensei ga haitte kita toki, minna tachimashita.
When the teacher entered, everyone stood up.

Yuka

Oh interesting! So tatsu can mean that too? I only knew the basic meaning.

Rei

Yes! tatsu is more versatile than most learners realize. Native speakers use it in all sorts of situations — not just the obvious ones.

すわる (座る) — To Sit / Sit Down

すわる describes the act of sitting down or being in a seated position. Like たつ, it is intransitive. The location where you sit is marked with に.

Example sentence 1:

どうぞ、お座りください。
Dōzo, o-suwari kudasai.
Please have a seat. (polite, as a host)

Example sentence 2:

彼はソファに座って映画を見ていた。
Kare wa sofā ni suwatte eiga o mite ita.
He was sitting on the sofa watching a movie.

Yuka

What about suwaru? Is it used as often as tatsu in daily conversation?

Rei

suwaru is super common too! The two words actually complement each other really well once you understand both.

Standing vs. Sitting: Using ている to Describe State

An important grammar pattern with both verbs is [te-form] + いる, which describes an ongoing state rather than a single action.

彼女は窓の前に立っています。
Kanojo wa mado no mae ni tatte imasu.
She is standing in front of the window.

子供たちは全員座っています。
Kodomotachi wa zen’in suwatte imasu.
All the children are sitting.

School and Formal Settings: 起立 (kiritsu) and 礼 (rei)

In Japanese schools, a formal sequence of commands is used at the start and end of class. This is a cultural context where たつ and すわる appear in their most structured forms.

These formal commands use kanji compounds rather than the plain verb forms, but they are built on the same concepts as たつ (立) and すわる (座/着席).

Decision Flowchart

Are you describing a physical position or movement?
  └─ YES → Is the person moving to or already in a standing position?
              └─ YES → たつ (tatsu) — 立つ
                         Action: 立つ / State: 立っている
              └─ NO, they are moving to or already in a sitting position →
                         すわる (suwaru) — 座る
                         Action: 座る / State: 座っている

Tip: Add ている after the te-form to shift from action → state:
  立つ (stand up) → 立っている (is standing)
  座る (sit down) → 座っている (is sitting)

Quick Quiz

Yuka

Alright, I think I understand both now. Time for a quiz to check!

Rei

That’s the spirit! Testing yourself is one of the best study techniques. Ready?

Fill in the blank with the correct form of たつ or すわる.

1. 「___てください」と先生が言いました。(The teacher said, “Please sit down.”)
2. バスが満員だったので、ずっと___ていました。(The bus was full, so I was standing the whole time.)
3. 彼女は公園のベンチに___っています。(She is sitting on a park bench.)
4. 朝礼で全員___ちました。(At morning assembly, everyone stood up.)
5. 疲れたので、少し___りたいです。(I’m tired, so I want to sit down for a bit.)

Answers:

1. 座っ (suwa tte) — 座ってください = “Please sit down.” Te-form + ください.
2. 立っ (ta tte) — 立っていました = “was standing.” Te-form + いました (past state).
3. 座 (suwa) — 座っています = “is sitting.” Te-form + います (present state).
4. 立 (ta) — 立ちました = “stood up.” Polite past form of たつ.
5. 座 (suwa) — 座りたい = “want to sit down.” Stem + たい.

Summary

たつ and すわる are among the first action verbs learners should master because they appear in such a wide range of situations. Memorize the te-form + いる pattern for both, and you will be able to describe what people are doing in any scene.

あわせて読みたい

Antonym：つくる(tsukuru) vs. こわす(kowasu) つくる (作る, tsukuru) and こわす (壊す, kowasu) are perfect antonyms — one means to make or create, the other means to break or destroy. These two verbs app...

＼ Learn Japanese with a personal native teacher!／

あわせて読みたい

Antonym：のる(noru) vs. おりる(oriru) If you have ever tried to say "get on the bus" or "get off the train" in Japanese, you have encountered のる (乗る, noru) and おりる (降りる, oriru). These t...