途切れる・跡切れる|とぎれるtogireru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Which spelling to use
途切れる途切れる(とぎれる) is the more common written form and the recommended choice for beginners. Use it when writing this verb.
跡切れる跡切れる(とぎれる) is a less common written variant of 途切れる(とぎれる). Recognize it when encountered, but do not choose it as a beginner.
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto break off; to come to an end; to be interrupted; to be cut short; to pause
    There was no gap in the stream of traffic.
Conjugation
Dictionary form途切れる(とぎれる)
Polite (masu)途切れます(とぎれます)
Negative (nai)途切れない(とぎれない)
polite (masen)途切れません(とぎれません)
classical zu / nu途切れず・途切れぬ(とぎれず・とぎれぬ)
Past (ta)途切れた(とぎれた)
polite (mashita)途切れました(とぎれました)
Past negative (nakatta)途切れなかった(とぎれなかった)
polite (masen deshita)途切れませんでした(とぎれませんでした)
Te form途切れて(とぎれて)
Potential途切れられる(とぎれられる)
Passive途切れられる(とぎれられる)
Causative途切れさせる(とぎれさせる)
Causative passive途切れさせられる(とぎれさせられる)
Conditional (ba)途切れれば(とぎれれば)
tara途切れたら(とぎれたら)
Volitional途切れよう(とぎれよう)
polite (mashou)途切れましょう(とぎれましょう)
Imperative途切れろ(とぎれろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym中断ちゅうだんNeutralA noun for an interruption (「会議が中断する」), deliberate or not; it stresses an ongoing activity stopping, while 「途切れる」 stresses a continuous flow breaking off.
  • Related休止きゅうしNeutralA noun for a pause or suspension (「運転休止」); the nuance is a temporary stop.
  • Related停止ていしNeutralA noun for a stoppage (「営業停止」), used mostly for machines and business operations.
  • Related一段落いちだんらくNeutralA noun for reaching a stopping point (「作業が一段落する」); it stresses that a matter is for the moment done.
  • Related途切らせるとぎらせるNeutralThe transitive counterpart of 「途切れる」: to interrupt something (「話を途切らせる」).
  • Antonym続くつづくNeutralThe direct opposite of 「途切れる」: to continue without a break (「雨が続く」).
  • Antonym絶えないNeutralThe other antonym: something keeps occurring without pause (「笑顔が絶えない」).

Use 「途切れる」 when something continuous — a sound, a conversation, contact — breaks off, as in 「話が途切れる」 or 「連絡が途切れる」. For an ongoing activity being stopped, choose 「中断」; for a task reaching a natural pause, 「一段落」. 「続く」 is its antonym.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 人ひとの往来おうらいがなくなる。とだえる。
  2. 続つづいていたものが途中とちゅうで切きれる。とだえる。
Kanji in this word
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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