止む・已む・罷む・熄む・歇む|やむyamu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
止む止む（やむ） is the most common form and is written with kanji and kana. Beginners can use it as their default.
已む已む（やむ） is a rarely used form, written with kanji and kana. Use 止む（やむ） instead when choosing a form.
罷む罷む（やむ） is a rarely used form, written with kanji and kana. Use 止む（やむ） instead when choosing a form.
熄む熄む（やむ） is a rarely used form, written with kanji and kana. Use 止む（やむ） instead when choosing a form.
歇む歇む（やむ） is a rarely used form, written with kanji and kana. Use 止む（やむ） instead when choosing a form.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto cease; to stop; to be over
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 止む（やむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 止みます（やみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 止まない（やまない） |
| polite (masen) | 止みません（やみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 止まず・止まぬ（やまず・やまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 止んだ（やんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 止みました（やみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 止まなかった（やまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 止みませんでした（やみませんでした） |
| Te form | 止んで（やんで） |
| Potential | 止める（やめる） |
| Passive | 止まれる（やまれる） |
| Causative | 止ませる（やませる） |
| Causative passive | 止ませられる・止まされる（やませられる・やまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 止めば（やめば） |
| tara | 止んだら（やんだら） |
| Volitional | 止もう（やもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 止みましょう（やみましょう） |
| Imperative | 止め（やめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym終わるおわるNeutralFor things coming to an end, as in 「授業が終わる」; it stresses reaching the endpoint, while 「止む」 stresses natural phenomena like rain subsiding.
- Synonym止まるとまるNeutralFor something moving coming to a stop, as in 「時計が止まる」; it stresses halting rather than ending, unlike 「止む」.
- Synonym終息しゅうそくWrittenWritten language for something subsiding, such as an epidemic or dispute, as in 「感染の終息」.
- Synonym終結しゅうけつWrittenWritten language for an event or war coming to an end, as in 「戦争の終結」.
- Synonym終了しゅうりょうWrittenWritten language for a program or activity ending, as in 「試合終了」.
- SynonymストップCasualA colloquial loanword for stopping, as in 「ストップをかける」.
- Synonym終止しゅうしWrittenWritten language for termination, as in 「終止符を打つ」.
- Related完了かんりょうWrittenWritten language for completing something, as in 「作業完了」; it stresses having finished the job.
- Related完結かんけつWrittenWritten language for a serialized story reaching its conclusion, as in 「シリーズ完結」.
- Related済むすむNeutralFor a matter being settled or done with, as in 「用事が済む」; it can also imply things turn out less severe than expected.
- Related止まるとまるNeutralFor something moving coming to a stop, as in 「時計が止まる」; it stresses halting rather than ending, unlike 「止む」.
- Related了するりょうするFormalFormal written language for finishing or grasping something; rare in modern usage.
- Antonym続くつづくNeutralThe opposite of 「止む」: to keep going without a break, as in 「雨が続く」.
- Antonym始まるはじまるNeutralThe opposite of 「止む」: something getting under way, as in 「雨が降り始まる」 for rain setting in.
Use 「止む」 for natural phenomena ceasing, like rain or wind. For things reaching an end use 「終わる」, for something moving stopping use 「止まる」, for programs or activities use 「終了」, for finishing work 「完了」, for an epidemic or dispute subsiding 「終息」. 「続く」 and 「始まる」 are the opposites: continuing and beginning.
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
