Translation guide
How to tell someone to stop doing something annoying or inappropriate in Japanese, from casual to formal.
Directly telling a friend, sibling, or someone close to stop doing something annoying.
The most common casual way to say 'stop it'. Used with friends, family, or children. Can sound whiny or pleading depending on tone.
A rough, masculine command. Often used by men in anger or when seriously annoyed. Can sound aggressive.
やめろって！
I said cut it out!
A softer, slightly more persuasive way to say 'stop it'. Often used when trying to reason with someone.
もうやめなよ。
Come on, cut it out already.
Politely asking someone to stop, or firmly telling a subordinate or stranger to cease.
Specifying what action to stop, using the verb stem + のをやめる or noun + をやめる.
Use after a verb in dictionary form + の to specify the action. Casual. Replace やめて with やめてください for politeness.
そんなに食べるのをやめて。
Stop eating so much.
Asking someone to quit a habit or cease a continuing state, often using 〜のをやめる or 〜をやめる.
Used with nouns like タバコ (smoking) or 仕事 (job). Can be conjugated for politeness or tense.
タバコをやめたほうがいいよ。
You should quit smoking.
Expressing strong annoyance or anger, telling someone to stop immediately.
Do not translate 'cut it out' literally as それを切って (cut that). It will not be understood as 'stop it'.
やめて is the default casual request. やめろ is a rough command, often used by men in anger. やめなさい is a firm but not rude command, typical of parents/teachers.
To say 'stop doing X', use the dictionary form of the verb + の + をやめる. Example: 食べるのをやめる (stop eating).
それ、やめてください。
Please stop doing that.
A more formal and polite version of 'やめてください'. Often used in announcements or by staff.
写真撮影はおやめください。
Please refrain from taking photos.
A firm command often used by parents or teachers to children. Not rude, but authoritative.
喧嘩はやめなさい。
Stop fighting.
大きな音を出すのをやめてください。
Please stop making loud noises.
Rough command form of the above. Masculine and aggressive.
文句言うのをやめろ。
Stop complaining.
彼は酒をやめた。
He quit drinking.
Polite version of the above. Still conveys strong irritation.
いい加減にしてください。
Please stop it already.