How do you say "to end" in Japanese?

終わる

owaru

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to end" is 終わる (owaru).

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Pronunciation

終わる is written using kanji. Romanised as owaru, it sounds roughly like "oh-wah-roo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 終 uses the thread radical with a phonetic element suggesting completion. Common in both formal and everyday endings.

Example sentence

週末に終わりますつもりです。

Shuumatsu ni owarimasu tsumori desu.

I plan to to end this weekend.

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How to remember 終わる

A thread being knotted or finished. Picture tying off the last thread to complete a garment.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 終わる

How do you pronounce 終わる?

終わる is romanised as owaru. Say it roughly like "oh-wah-roo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 終わる formal or casual?

終わる is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 終わる written in Japanese?

終わる is written using kanji. The kanji 終 uses the thread radical with a phonetic element suggesting completion.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"To end" in other languages

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