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On Are 終わる and 済ませる synonyms?, there were some questions whether 終わる is used as a transitive verb.

Space ALC seems to have a few results for を終わる, but far more for を終わらせる and を終える. Looking at sense 4 of the Daijisen definition, it does seem 終わる can be used as a transitive verb:

しまいにする。終える。「会議を―・ります」

My question: How often is 終わる used as a transitive verb and when is it used in such a way compared to 終わらせる and 終える?

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cypher
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2 Answers2

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終わる is used both as a transitive verb and an intransitive verb, whereas 終える is used only as a transitive verb. When 終わる is used as a transitive verb, it is almost synonymous to 終える. The only exception I can think of is that a closing word of a speech or other verbal communication is usually …を終わります instead of …を終えます.

Tsuyoshi Ito
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Looking at this dictionary reference, it seems like the times where 終わる　might be used like a transitive verb would be when one is putting an end to something.

For example:

　これで私のスピーチを終わります。

Or another example (according to "bridge road hight"さん in this answer,) :

「授業を終わる」→先生（講師）側
「授業を終える」→生徒（受講者）側

Basically, a teacher might say something like "I finished (teaching) the class." whereas a student would say something like "I finished (taking) the class."

summea
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