The Japanese language has various verbs that are written with the same Kanji (止), but their meanings and usage vary depending on how they are read and conjugated. This article explores the differences between “止める(とめる), 止まる(とまる), 止める(やめる),” and “止む(やむ),” focusing on their meanings, key images, and practical examples. Understanding these verbs will deepen your grasp of transitive and intransitive verbs in Japanese grammar, as well as how nuanced actions and states can be expressed.

Grammar

First of all, it’s essential to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs:

  • Transitive Verbs – 他動詞(たどうし):
    These verbs require a direct object to complete their action. In other words, someone or something actively does something to another object. Usually follows を-particle.

  • Intransitive Verbs – 自動詞(じどうし):
    These verbs do not take a direct object. They describe actions or states that happen by themselves. Usually follows が-particle.

止める(とめる)

Transitive verb

  • Meaning: To stop (something), to bring something to a halt
  • Key image: Actively causing an action or movement to stop

  1. キーパーがボールを止める。
    (きーぱーが ぼーるを とめる。)
    — The goalkeeper stops the ball. 
    Explanation: The goalkeeper actively intervenes to stop the ball.


  2. 警察が怪しい車を止めた。
    (けいさつが あやしい くるまを とめた。)
    — The police stopped a suspicious car. 
    Explanation: The police actively made the car stop.


  3. 敵のパンチを止めた。
    (てきの ぱんちを とめた。)
    — (I) stopped the enemy’s punch. 
    Explanation: A direct action to intercept or block a movement.


  4. 税関で止められた。
    (ぜいかんで とめられた。)
    — (It was) stopped at customs. 
    Explanation: Customs actively halted something or stopped me for questioning and investigation.


  5. 子供達が子供だけで川に行くのを止めた。
    (こどもたちが こどもだけで かわに いくのを とめた。)
    — (I) stopped the children from going to the river alone. 
    Explanation: Actively prevented someone from doing something.


  6. 医者にお酒とタバコを止められました。
    (いしゃに おさけと たばこを とめられました。)
    — The doctor told me to stop drinking alcohol and smoking. 
    Explanation: Someone actively imposed a restriction.


  7. 料金の未払いで電話を止められた。
    (りょうきんの みばらいで でんわを とめられた。)
    — The phone was cut off due to unpaid bills. 
    Explanation: Someone actively disconnected the phone line.


止まる(とまる)

Intransitive verb

  • Meaning: Something or someone stop (its/their movement or action), to come to a halt (by itself)
  • Key image: Something halts or ceases naturally or on its/their own


  1. 信号で止まる。
    (しんごうで とまる。)
    — (It/I) stops at the traffic light. 
    Explanation: The vehicle or I come to a stop when the traffic light turns red.

  2. 時計が止まる。
    (とけいが とまる。)
    — The clock stops. 
    Explanation: The clock ceases functioning on its own.


  3. 電車が止まる。
    (でんしゃが とまる。)
    — The train stops.
    Explanation: Two meanings: the train halts at a station, or it stops somewhere due to an emergency or ceases operation entirely.

  4. アラームが止まった。
    (あらーむが とまった。)
    — The alarm stopped. 
    Explanation: The sound ceased by itself.

  5. プリンターが止まった。
    (ぷりんたーが とまった。)
    — The printer stopped. 
    Explanation: The machine halted operation due to an error or completion.


  6. 停電で水も止まっています。
    (ていでんで みずも とまっています。)
    — Water is also cut off due to the power outage. 
    Explanation: The flow of water ceased automatically when the power went out.

  7. 絵を描いていた彼の手が止まった。
    (えを かいていた かれの てが とまった。)
    — His hand, which had been drawing, stopped. 
    Explanation: He suddenly stopped the movement of his hand while drawing, possibly due to surprise, fatigue, or distraction.

  8. アパートの前で救急車が止まった。
    (あぱーとの まえで きゅうきゅうしゃが とまった。)
    — The ambulance stopped in front of the apartment. 
    Explanation: This “止まる (とまる)” focuses on the ambulance ceasing movement rather than parking.

Note:

停める (とめる): To park (transitive).

停まる (とまる): To stop (moving) (e.g., at bus stops) or to be parked (intransitive).

  • 救急隊員はアパートの前に救急車を停めた。
    (きゅうきゅうたいいんは あぱーとの まえに きゅうきゅうしゃを とめた。)
    — The paramedics parked the ambulance in front of the apartment.

  • 救急車がアパートの前に停まった。
    (きゅうきゅうしゃが あぱーとの まえに とまった。)
    — An ambulance was parked in front of the apartment. 


    Explanation: When “停” is used, it means “to park” rather than “to stop moving.” Pronunciation is the same with “止.”

止める(やめる)

Transitive verb

  • Meaning: To discontinue an action, to stop doing something
  • Key image: Actively stopping an ongoing action


  1. 走るのを止める。
    (はしるのを やめる。)
    — (I) stop running. 
    Explanation: Actively choosing to stop an ongoing activity.

  2. 本を読むのを止める。
    (ほんを よむのを やめる。)
    — (I) stop reading a book. 
    Explanation: Discontinuing the activity of reading.

  3. 考えるのを止める。
    (かんがえるのを やめる。)
    — (I) stop thinking. 
    Explanation: Actively ceasing the thought process.

  4. 話すのを止めてください。
    (はなすのを やめてください。)
    — Please stop talking. 
    Explanation: Requesting someone to cease speaking.

  5. 止めてください！
    (やめてください！)
    — Please stop! 
    Explanation: A direct plea to stop an action.

  6. ３年続けた勉強を止める。
    (さんねん つづけた べんきょうを やめる。)
    — (I) stop studying after three years. 
    Explanation: Discontinuing an effort after a certain period.


Important distinction:

辞める (やめる) is used specifically for quitting a job or resigning a role.

  1. 会社を辞める。
    (かいしゃを やめる。)
    — (I) quit the company.


  2. 塾を辞める。
    (じゅくを やめる。)
    — (I) quit cram school.


  3. 大学を辞めた。
    (だいがくを やめた。)
    — (I) quitted university.


  4. エンジニアを辞める。
    (えんじにあを やめる。)
    — (I) quit being an engineer.


  5. サラリーマンを辞めたい。
    (さらりーまんを やめたい。)
    — (I) want to quit being a salaried worker.


  6. 彼は総理大臣を辞めた。
    (かれは そうりだいじんを やめた。)
    — He resigned as prime minister.


止む(やむ)

Intransitive verb

  • Meaning: To cease, to stop naturally
  • Key image: Something comes to an end by itself



  1. 雨が止む。
    (あめが やむ。)
    — The rain stops. 
    Explanation: The rain ceases naturally.

  2. 雷が止む。
    (かみなりが やむ。)
    — The thunder stops. 
    Explanation: The thunder fades away on its own.

  3. 音が止んだ。
    (おとが やんだ。)
    — The sound stopped. 
    Explanation: The noise ceased naturally.

  4. 風が止んだ。
    (かぜが やんだ。)
    — The wind stopped. 
    Explanation: The wind calmed down naturally.

  5. 鳥の鳴き声が止む。
    (とりの なきごえが やむ。)
    — The chirping of birds stops. 
    Explanation: The birds’ chirping ceased on its own.

  6. 子供が泣き止む。
    (こどもが なきやむ。)
    — The child stops crying. 
    Explanation: A combined verb (泣く + 止む) indicating the natural cessation of crying.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between these verbs allows you to express actions and states accurately in Japanese. Remember:

  • 止める (とめる): Transitive, actively stopping something or someone’s action, or making someone quit their action.
  • 止まる (とまる): Intransitive, something or someone stops on its/their own.
  • 止める (やめる): Transitive, discontinuing an action.
  • 止む (やむ): Intransitive, something naturally ceases (e.g., rain or sound).

By practicing these verbs in context, you’ll be able to use them naturally and confidently in daily conversation.