Translation guide
How to express the act of stopping something or coming to a stop in Japanese, depending on what is being stopped and whether it is intentional.
To bring a vehicle or machine to a halt, either by the driver/operator or automatically.
General transitive verb for stopping something. Used for vehicles, machines, etc.
車を止めてください。
Please stop the car.
エンジンを止めた。
I stopped the engine.
Specifically for parking or stopping a vehicle temporarily.
ここに車を停めてもいいですか。
Is it okay to park the car here?
Intransitive verb meaning 'to stop' (the thing itself stops). Used when a vehicle or machine comes to a halt on its own.
電車が止まりました。
The train stopped.
時計が止まっている。
The clock has stopped.
To cease doing something, or to cause someone to stop doing something.
To stop doing something; to quit an activity or habit. Transitive.
タバコをやめました。
I quit smoking.
話すのをやめてください。
Please stop talking.
Same as やめる but written with kanji. Often used in formal contexts.
To cancel or call off an event, plan, or ongoing activity. More formal.
雨で試合が中止になった。
The game was canceled due to rain.
Formal term for stopping or suspending something, often used for services, operations, or legal actions.
サービスを一時停止します。
We will temporarily suspend the service.
To block or halt the movement of something, such as a person, liquid, or sound.
General transitive verb for stopping movement or flow.
彼を止めてください。
Please stop him.
水を止めて。
Stop the water.
To block or intercept, often used for light, sound, or a path.
To dam up or hold back, typically used for water or emotions.
When something stops by itself without external force.
To stop something by force or through an external agent.
To check or stem the tide of something, like an advance or spread.
敵の攻撃を食い止めた。
We stemmed the enemy's attack.
To obstruct or prevent something from happening. Formal.
計画を阻止する。
To thwart the plan.
とめる is for stopping physical objects or movement, while やめる is for stopping actions or habits. Using the wrong one can change the meaning.
車をとめる (stop the car) vs タバコをやめる (quit smoking)
Stop the car vs quit smoking
While ストップする is used in casual Japanese, it is not always natural. For stopping actions, やめる is preferred. For vehicles, 止める/止まる is standard.
He quit his job.
カーテンで光を遮った。
I blocked the light with the curtain.
涙をせき止めることができなかった。
I couldn't hold back my tears.