止める・留める・停める|とめるtomeru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
止める止める（とめる） is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners. Choose it when you need to write this entry.
留める留める（とめる） is less common than 止める（とめる）. It is a written variant, but beginners should normally choose 止める（とめる） instead.
停める停める（とめる） is less common than both 止める（とめる） and 留める（とめる）. Beginners should normally choose 止める（とめる） rather than this form.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto stop; to turn offesp. 止める, 停める
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto parkesp. 止める, 停める
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto prevent; to suppress (a cough); to hold back (tears); to hold (one's breath); to relieve (pain)esp. 止める, 停める
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto stop (someone from doing something); to dissuade; to forbid; to prohibit
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto notice; to be aware of; to concentrate on; to pay attention to; to remember; to bear in mind
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto fix (in place); to fasten; to tack; to pin; to nail; to button; to stapleesp. 留める
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto detain; to keep in custodyesp. 留める
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 止める（とめる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 止めます（とめます） |
| Negative (nai) | 止めない（とめない） |
| polite (masen) | 止めません（とめません） |
| classical zu / nu | 止めず・止めぬ（とめず・とめぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 止めた（とめた） |
| polite (mashita) | 止めました（とめました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 止めなかった（とめなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 止めませんでした（とめませんでした） |
| Te form | 止めて（とめて） |
| Potential | 止められる（とめられる） |
| Passive | 止められる（とめられる） |
| Causative | 止めさせる（とめさせる） |
| Causative passive | 止めさせられる（とめさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 止めれば（とめれば） |
| tara | 止めたら（とめたら） |
| Volitional | 止めよう（とめよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 止めましょう（とめましょう） |
| Imperative | 止めろ（とめろ） |
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 describes the car coming to a stop on its own or as a natural event, while 止める focuses on an agent intentionally stopping the car.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymストップNeutralA loanword, common in speech, as in 「ストップをかける」; more casual than 「止める」.
- Synonym停止ていしWrittenA Sino-Japanese word for operations or activity stopping, as in 「運転停止」; mostly of machines and in formal contexts.
- Synonym食い止めるくいとめるWrittenTo keep something bad from spreading further, as in 「被害を食い止める」; the focus is on containing damage.
- Synonym中止ちゅうしWrittenAn event stopping midway or being called off, as in 「雨天中止」; used of events, not physical objects.
- Synonym打ち切るうちきるNeutralTo end something ongoing partway through, as in 「連載を打ち切る」; implies a one-sided decision.
- Synonym阻止そしWrittenTo prevent something from happening, as in 「侵入を阻止する」; carries a sense of opposition.
- Synonym打ち切りうちきりNeutralA noun: ending something partway, as in 「番組の打ち切り」.
- Synonym中断ちゅうだんNeutralTo break off something in progress for a while; it may resume later.
- Synonym阻むはばむWrittenTo block someone's way or obstruct, as in 「行く手を阻む」.
- Synonym解消かいしょうWrittenTo dissolve a relationship or clear up a problem, as in 「婚約を解消する」 and 「ストレス解消」.
- Synonym休止きゅうしWrittenA temporary halt in activity, as in 「運転休止」.
- Synonym遮るさえぎるNeutralTo block a view or cut someone off mid-sentence, as in 「話を遮る」.
- SynonymよすCasualColloquial: to quit doing, give up; for yourself or telling others, as in 「酒をよす」 and 「よせよ」.
- Synonym留めるとどめるWrittenRead 「とどめる」, it means to keep something where it is, as in 「記憶にとどめる」.
- Synonym取りやめるとりやめるNeutralTo cancel a planned event or plan, as in 「旅行を取りやめる」. 「止める」 is about stopping an action or something in progress.
- Synonym押しとどめるおしとどめるWrittenTo physically hold someone back from acting, as in 「出ようとする人を押しとどめる」.
- Synonym差し止めるさしとめるWrittenTo prohibit or stop an action, as in 「出版を差し止める」; can be through legal process or ordinary prevention.
- Synonym廃するはいするFormalTo abolish a system or depose someone from a position, as in 「王を廃する」.
- Synonym廃すはいすWrittenThe classical form of 「廃する」: to abolish; even more literary in tone.
- Synonymせき止めるせきとめるNeutralTo dam water, and figuratively to hold back a flow of people, as in 「川をせき止める」.
- Related終えるおえるNeutralTo finish or complete something; the focus is on completion, whereas 「止める」 can mean stopping midway.
- Antonym放つはなつNeutralThe opposite of 「止める」: to release or let loose, as in 「矢を放つ」.
- AntonymとくNeutralThe opposite of the fastening sense of 「止める」: to untie, undo, release from restraint.
To stop something moving, the default is 「止める（とめる）」. For calling off an activity use 「中止」 or 「取りやめる」; for machines stopping, 「停止」; for containing something getting worse, 「食い止める」; for preventing, 「阻止」 or 「阻む」. Releasing is 「放つ」.
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
