Translation guide
How to express canceling, postponing, or stopping a planned event, agreement, or activity in Japanese.
To call off a scheduled event, meeting, or plan.
The most common and neutral way to say 'cancel' for events, meetings, or activities. Suitable for both formal and informal situations.
雨のため、試合は中止になった。
The game was called off due to rain.
We are calling off tomorrow's meeting.
Loanword from English, commonly used for reservations, appointments, or informal cancellations. Less formal than 中止する.
ホテルの予約をキャンセルした。
I called off the hotel reservation.
デートをキャンセルされた。
My date was called off.
To call off or cancel something that was planned, often implying a decision after consideration. Slightly more formal than キャンセルする.
旅行を取りやめることにした。
We decided to call off the trip.
To call off a search, strike, or other ongoing action.
To call off or terminate something that is in progress, such as a search, project, or broadcast. Implies an abrupt or definitive end.
警察は捜索を打ち切った。
The police called off the search.
番組は低視聴率で打ち切られた。
The show was called off due to low ratings.
Also used for stopping ongoing events, but 打ち切る emphasizes termination of a continuous activity.
ストライキは中止された。
The strike was called off.
To break off an engagement, contract, or formal agreement.
Specifically used for calling off an engagement or marriage arrangement. Also used for business deals falling through.
彼女は婚約を破談にした。
She called off the engagement.
To dissolve or call off a relationship, contract, or agreement. More formal and broader than 破談にする.
契約を解消する。
To call off the contract.
To command a dog to stop attacking or chasing.
Literally 'call the dog back', used when calling off an attacking or chasing dog.
飼い主は犬を呼び戻した。
The owner called off the dog.
To make the dog stop, more direct command.
彼は犬を止めさせた。
He called off the dog.
中止 (ちゅうし) is the standard word for canceling events and is neutral in formality. キャンセル is a casual loanword often used for personal reservations. 取りやめる implies a decision to cancel after consideration, often used in business contexts.
イベントは中止です。
The event is called off.
予約をキャンセルしたい。
I want to call off the reservation.
計画を取りやめる。
Call off the plan.