How to say "halt" in Japanese

• 停止ていしJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers 'halt' as a noun or state: a stoppage, a coming to a stop, or a standstill. Typical for machines, traffic, or activity coming to a stop.
  列車れっしゃは滑なめらかに停止ていしした。↗

  The train came to a smooth stop.
• 立ち止まるたちどまるJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbA verb for a person or thing halting in one's tracks while moving, often briefly pausing. Use when someone stops walking rather than when an operation or process is halted.
  彼かれは立ち止たちどまってポスターをのぞき込こんだ。↗

  He paused to look at the poster.
• 食い止めるくいとめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbMeans to check, hold back, or keep something at bay rather than simply stop; 'halt' fits only in that sense, as in halting the spread of something.
  被害ひがいは最小限さいしょうげんに食い止くいとめられた。↗

  The damage was held to a minimum.

Use 停止 for a stoppage or standstill, 「立ち止まる」 when someone halts in their tracks, and 「食い止める」 for halting something in the sense of checking or holding it back.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 停止ていしstoppage
• 立ち止まるたちどまるto stop (in one's tracks)
• 食い止めるくいとめるto check
• 停留ていりゅうstop
• 一区切りひとくぎりbreak
• 歯止めをかけるはどめをかけるto curb
• つかえるto halt (in one's speech)