How to say "stop" in Japanese

• 止めるとめるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe everyday transitive verb: you stop something that is moving or running, such as a car or a machine, and it also covers turning things off. Choose it when someone acts on the thing being stopped.
  その新聞しんぶんは政府せいふにインフレを止とめるように求もとめた。↗

  The newspaper called for the government to stop inflation.
• やめるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbStops an activity rather than a moving object: quitting or discontinuing something you have been doing, such as a habit or a job; usually written in kana alone.
  キャシーは花はなを摘つむのをやめました。↗

  Cathy stopped picking flowers.
• 留めるとどめるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers stopping in the sense of staying put, as in staying the night, or putting an end to something. For plain 'stop' it is seldom the word you want.
• 止まるとまるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive counterpart of 止める: something comes to a stop on its own, such as a car, a train or a clock. Use it when the subject is the thing that stops.
  そして、電車でんしゃはキーッという音おとを立たてて止とまった。↗

  Then, the train screeched to a halt.
• しまうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbChiefly means to finish or put an end to something; its 'stop' sense is marginal, and it is rarely the natural choice when translating 'stop' — reach for 止める, 止まる or やめる instead.

Use 「止める」 to stop something you act on and 「止まる」 when something stops by itself; 「やめる」 quits an activity, while 「留める」 and 「しまう」, which center on ending or staying, are seldom the right word for plain 'stop'.

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

• 止めるとめるto stop
• やめるto stop (an activity)
• 留めるとどめるto stop
• 止まるとまるto stop (moving)
• しまうto finish
• 留めとめ(a) stop (e.g. in a timber joint, or at the end of a kanji stroke)
• ストップstop
• 止むやむto cease
• 立ち止まるたちどまるto stop (in one's tracks)
• よすto stop (doing)
• 途絶えるとだえるto stop
• 止まりとまりstop
• 打ち切るうちきるto stop
• 停車ていしゃstopping (of a train, car, etc.)
• 阻むはばむto keep someone from doing
• たたずむto stand (still) a while
• 停留所ていりゅうじょstop (bus, tram, etc.)
• 食い止めるくいとめるto check
• 引き止めるひきとめるto detain
• 停留ていりゅうstop
• 終止しゅうしtermination
• 宿すしゅくすto stay (at)
• 差し止めるさしとめるto stop
• 措くおくto stop (doing something)
• 止まれとまれStop
• 停車駅ていしゃえきstop (on a train's route)
• 停留場ていりゅうじょうstop (bus, streetcar, etc.)
• 訪問地ほうもんちstop (on a trip)
• 閉鎖音へいさおんstop
• 発着駅はっちゃくえきstop (on train route)
• 止めにするやめにするto stop
• およしstop (it)
• 押しとどめるおしとどめるto check
• 泊まり込むとまりこむto stay overnight
• 宿するしゅくするto stay (at)
• 言いさすいいさすto break off (mid-sentence)
• 止めに入るとめにはいるto intervene
• 呼び止めるよびとめるto (call and) stop
• 一区切りひとくぎりbreak
• 死ぬしぬto cease
• ブレーキ(a) stop (to a development, behavior, etc.)
• 埋めるうめるto plug (a gap)
• 捕まえるつかまえるto catch hold of (someone)
• しぼりaperture
• 宿るやどるto stay (at)
• 断ち切るたちきるto sever (ties)
• 踏みとどまるふみとどまるto stop (doing)
• 絶するぜっするto end
• 区切りくぎりbreak
• 上がるあがるto stop (of rain)