止とまる

と

ま

る

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

stop moving; come to a stop

Physical cessation of motion: vehicles, machines, people, or objects. 停まる is common for scheduled stops.

バスが停てい留りゅう所じょに止とまった。
The bus stopped at the bus stop.
時計とけいが止とまっている。
The clock has stopped.

2

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

stop functioning; cease; be suspended

Cessation of activity, operation, supply, or ongoing state. Often used for services, rain, or work.

電でん車しゃの運うん行こうが止とまった。
Train service stopped.
工こう場じょうの生せい産さんが止とまった。
Production at the factory has stopped.

3

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

alight; perch; settle

Only when written 留まる / 留る

For birds, insects, or light objects landing and staying on something. 留まる is the preferred kanji.

小こ鳥とりが枝えだに留とまっている。
A small bird is perched on the branch.

Written forms

止とまるUsage63%
Most common kanji for stopping movement, activity, or supply.
とまるUsage17%
留とまるUsage10%
Used especially for birds or insects alighting/perching, and for things staying in one place.
停とまるUsage8%
Often used for vehicles stopping at a scheduled place (bus, train).
止とまるUsage2%
Less common okurigana variant.
留とまるUsage<1%
Less common okurigana variant for alighting/perching.
駐とまるUsage<1%
Rare kanji for parking a vehicle; 駐車する is more common.

Kanji

止stop, halt
留detain, fasten, halt
停halt, stopping
駐

Similar words

止とめる
Transitive counterpart: to stop something. 止まる is intransitive (something stops).
停てい車しゃ
Noun for a vehicle stopping; 止まる is the verb form.
留とどめる
Transitive verb meaning to detain or hold in place; related to 留まる in the sense of staying.

Etymology

Native Japanese verb. The kanji 止 is used for stopping motion or activity, 留 for staying/perching, 停 for scheduled stops, and 駐 for parking. The core meaning is intransitive cessation or remaining in place.

stop-over, reside in, resident