Translation guide
This guide covers natural Japanese ways to express the idea of bringing something to an end, including finishing tasks, terminating events, and concluding processes. It focuses on common verbs and patterns, with notes on formality and usage.
Expressing that you complete or finish doing something, such as work, a project, or a daily activity.
Transitive verb meaning 'to finish (something)'. Used when the subject actively completes an action or task. Often used with nouns like 仕事 (work) or 宿題 (homework).
Let's go for a drink after we finish work.
He finished all his homework.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to end' or 'to be finished'. Used when something comes to an end naturally or without specifying who ended it. Can also be used transitively in casual speech, but 終える is more standard for deliberate completion.
The meeting ended.
Work is finally over.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to mean 'finish doing'. Emphasizes completion of the action. More formal/literary than ～終わる.
He finished writing the novel.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to mean 'finish doing'. Common in everyday speech. Slightly less formal than ～終える.
I'll clean up after I finish eating.
Expressing that you put a stop to something ongoing, such as a meeting, a contract, or a situation.
To terminate or discontinue something, often abruptly or by decision. Used for projects, programs, broadcasts, etc.
The program was brought to an end due to low ratings.
Causative form of 終わる, meaning 'to make something end' or 'to bring to an end'. Used when someone actively ends something.
He brought the relationship to an end.
Formal term meaning 'to bring to a conclusion' or 'to terminate'. Used for conflicts, wars, negotiations.
Expressing the act of formally closing or wrapping up an event like a ceremony, speech, or meeting.
To wrap up, conclude, or bring something to a close in a satisfying way. Often used for speeches, events, or summaries.
The president brought the speech to an end.
Formal verb for closing a meeting, conference, or event. Often used in official contexts.
The chairperson brought the meeting to an end.
Expressing that you stop something negative, such as a conflict, rumor, or bad habit.
Idiom meaning 'to put an end to' or 'to put a stop to'. Literally 'to put a period/full stop'. Used for ending long-standing issues or conflicts.
The incident brought the long-standing controversy to an end.
Causative of やめる (to stop), meaning 'to make someone stop' or 'to put an end to something'. Casual and direct.
I want to bring his bad habit to an end.
終える (transitive) is used when someone actively finishes something. 終わる (intransitive) is used when something ends on its own. In casual speech, 終わる is sometimes used transitively (e.g., 仕事を終わる), but 終える is more correct for deliberate completion.
Avoid directly translating 'bring to an end' as '終わりに持っていく' or similar. Instead, use the appropriate verb or phrase based on context.
Both countries signed a treaty to bring the war to an end.