止まる・留まる・停まる・駐まる・止る・留る|とまるtomaru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
止まる止まる is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when you need to write this verb.
留まる留まる is less common than 止まる. It is a written variant, but beginners should normally choose 止まる instead.
停まる停まる is less common than 止まる and 留まる. It is a possible written variant, but beginners should use 止まる.
駐まる駐まる is less common than 止まる, 留まる, and 停まる. You may encounter it, but beginners should choose 止まる.
止る止る is less common than the four forms above. It is a written variant, but beginners should use the more common 止まる.
留る留る is the least common of these written forms. Learners may encounter it, but beginners should choose 止まる instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto stop (moving); to come to a stop
- godan verb, intransitive verbto stop (doing, working, being supplied); to come to a halt; to cease; to be stopped; to be suspended
- godan verb, intransitive verbto alight; to perch on
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 止まる（とまる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 止まります（とまります） |
| Negative (nai) | 止まらない（とまらない） |
| polite (masen) | 止まりません（とまりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 止まらず・止まらぬ（とまらず・とまらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 止まった（とまった） |
| polite (mashita) | 止まりました（とまりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 止まらなかった（とまらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 止まりませんでした（とまりませんでした） |
| Te form | 止まって（とまって） |
| Potential | 止まれる（とまれる） |
| Passive | 止まられる（とまられる） |
| Causative | 止まらせる（とまらせる） |
| Causative passive | 止まらせられる・止まらされる（とまらせられる・とまらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 止まれば（とまれば） |
| tara | 止まったら（とまったら） |
| Volitional | 止まろう（とまろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 止まりましょう（とまりましょう） |
| Imperative | 止まれ（とまれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
車が止まる
車を止める
止まる is intransitive and describes the car coming to a stop, with the car marked by が. 止める is transitive and describes someone stopping the car, with the car marked by を.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym立ち止まるたちどまるNeutralFor a person or animal stopping in their tracks while walking, as in 「道で立ち止まる」; 「止まる」 is the general word for coming to a stop.
- SynonymストップNeutralA loanword meaning stop, frequent in colloquial speech, e.g. 「ストップする」.
- Synonym停止ていしNeutralA Sino-Japanese noun for machinery or activity ceasing to run, as in 「運転停止」; more formal than 「止まる」.
- Synonym停車ていしゃNeutralSpecifically for a vehicle — a train or car — stopping, as in 「各駅停車」.
- Synonym止むやむNeutralFor natural phenomena — rain, wind, sounds — ceasing, as in 「雨が止む」; 「止まる」 is mostly for moving objects coming to a stop.
- Synonym止まるやまるNeutralSame written form but read とどまる: to remain where you are or stay within a limit, as in 「現状にとどまる」.
- Synonym停留ていりゅうWrittenWritten word for staying in one place, as in 「停留所」.
- Synonym一時停止いちじていしNeutralA temporary stop; as a traffic sign it means stop and yield at an intersection or railway crossing.
- RelatedとどまるNeutralSame written form but read とどまる: to remain where you are or stay within a limit, as in 「現状にとどまる」.
- Related滞留たいりゅうWrittenWritten word for staying somewhere and not moving on, or for goods piling up, as in 「空港に滞留する」.
- Related休止きゅうしNeutralA temporary pause in activity, as in 「運転休止」; also the musical rest in 「休止符」.
- Related終息しゅうそくWrittenWritten word for an epidemic, conflict or unrest coming to a complete end.
- RelatedたたずむWrittenLiterary verb for standing quietly in one spot; carries a poetic flavor.
- Related底止ていしWrittenWritten word for stopping once something has gone as far as it can; not used in everyday speech.
Use 「止まる」 as the default for anything coming to a stop. Choose 「立ち止まる」 when a person stops walking, 「停車」 for vehicles, 「停止」 for machines or operations, and 「止む」 when rain, wind or sounds cease. 「とどまる」 means staying put; 「ストップ」 is a common spoken loanword; 「一時停止」 and 「休止」 are temporary halts; the rest are written or literary.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
