終わるFinish doing
終わる attaches to a verb stem to show that an activity has reached its natural or intended endpoint. It is a neutral way to say that someone finishes doing something.
An activity with a clear endpoint
Use this pattern when the activity continues for some time and has a recognizable finish: reading a book, writing a report, printing a set of documents, or preparing a meal. The focus is simply on reaching that endpoint.
レポートを書き終わったので、メールで送りました。
I finished writing the report, so I sent it by email.
AnalyzeInflect the final verb
Once the compound is formed, change only the final 終わる part for past, negative, or polite forms. The first verb remains in its stem form.
Compound and standalone uses
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| Pattern | Example | What it reports |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem + 終わる | 資料を読み終わった。 | Someone finished the action of reading the materials. |
| Standalone 終わる | 会議が終わった。 | The meeting itself ended; there is no preceding verb stem. |
Not limited to intentional actions
Intentional tasks are especially common, but some natural events can also appear when they have a recognizable endpoint. This does not mean that the pattern combines freely with every nonintentional verb.
雪が降り終わったころ、空が明るくなりました。
Around the time it finished snowing, the sky grew brighter.
AnalyzeThe snowfall is treated as one bounded event that reaches its end.
Neutral endpoint versus added attitude
終わる neutrally marks the endpoint of an activity. By contrast, the completion use of てしまう can present the action as completely dealt with or add a reaction such as relief, regret, or annoyance, depending on context.
More examples
この本を読み終わるまで、あと二日ぐらいかかりそうです。
It looks like it will take about two more days to finish reading this book.
Analyze昨日は資料を印刷し終わりませんでした。
I did not finish printing the materials yesterday.
Analyze夕食を作り終わったら、呼んでください。
Please call me when you have finished making dinner.
Analyzeみんなが答えを書き終わるまで待ちましょう。
Let’s wait until everyone has finished writing their answers.
Analyzeちょうど洗濯物を干し終わったところです。
I have just finished hanging out the laundry.
Analyzeこの章はまだ読み終わっていません。
I have not finished reading this chapter yet.
Analyze全員が食べ終わってから、店を出ました。
We left the restaurant after everyone had finished eating.
Analyze