How do you say "to stop" in Japanese?

止める

tomeru

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to stop" is 止める (tomeru).

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Pronunciation

止める is written using kanji. Romanised as tomeru, it sounds roughly like "toh-meh-roo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 止 is a simple pictograph showing a foot or footprint. Used to mean stop, halt, or prevent, and appears as a component in other movement kanji.

Example sentence

私は毎日止めます。

Watashi wa mainichi tomemasu.

I to stop every day.

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How to remember 止める

A single footprint: when you stop, your feet stop moving. The shape resembles a foot from above.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 止める

How do you pronounce 止める?

止める is romanised as tomeru. Say it roughly like "toh-meh-roo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 止める formal or casual?

止める 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 止める written in Japanese?

止める is written using kanji. The kanji 止 is a simple pictograph showing a foot or footprint.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"To stop" in other languages

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