Translation guide
How to express that something is completed, done, or over in Japanese, depending on context and nuance.
To say that an action or task has been completed.
Past tense of 終わる (to end/finish). The most common and neutral way to say something is finished.
宿題が終わった。
I finished my homework.
仕事はもう終わった。
Work is already finished.
Past tense of 済む (to be completed/finished). Often implies a sense of relief or that something is taken care of.
支払いは済んだ。
The payment has been made (is finished).
用事が済んだら、電話して。
Call me when you're done with your errand.
Verb stem + 終わる means 'to finish doing something'. Emphasizes the completion of the action.
本を読み終わった。
I finished reading the book.
レポートを書き終わりました。
I finished writing the report.
Formal/technical term for completion. Used in official or business contexts.
プロジェクトは完了しました。
The project has been completed.
To describe that something is in a finished state, or an event is over.
Te-iru form of 終わる, indicating the state of being finished. Often used for events or things that have ended.
会議はもう終わっている。
The meeting is already over.
映画はとっくに終わっているよ。
The movie finished ages ago.
Te-iru form of 済む, indicating a state of completion, often with a nuance of 'taken care of'.
手続きはもう済んでいます。
The procedures are already completed.
Means 'to be completed' in the sense of something being made or prepared. Used for products, meals, etc.
夕食が出来上がっているよ。
Dinner is ready (finished cooking).
新しいビルが出来上がっている。
The new building is completed.
To say that a supply or resource is used up, or a person is exhausted.
Past tense of 切れる (to run out/expire). Used for things like batteries, time, patience.
Past tense of 尽きる (to be exhausted/used up). Often used for abstract things like patience, ideas, or luck.
Past tense of なくなる (to be gone/used up). Very common for physical items being used up.
ガソリンがなくなった。
We're out of gas.
お金がなくなった。
I've run out of money.
To emphasize that something is completely finished, with no remaining parts.
Verb stem + 切る means 'to do something completely/to the end'. Stronger than 終わる.
マラソンを走り切った。
I ran the whole marathon (finished it completely).
仕事をやり切った。
I finished all the work (did it thoroughly).
Verb stem + 尽くす means 'to do something exhaustively/use up'. Implies doing everything possible.
できることはやり尽くした。
I've done everything I can (exhausted all options).
To describe something that is pre-made or already finished, like a product.
Pre-noun adjectival meaning 'ready-made' or 'off-the-shelf'. Often used for food or goods.
出来合いの料理を買った。
I bought ready-made food.
Means 'ready-made' or 'pre-fabricated', often for clothing or industrial products.
既製のスーツを買う。
Buy an off-the-rack suit.
Both mean 'to finish', but 終わる focuses on the end of an action or event, while 済む often implies a sense of relief or that an obligation is fulfilled. 済む is commonly used for errands, payments, and formalities.
The English loanword フィニッシュ is rarely used in natural Japanese except in specific sports or game contexts. It does not mean 'finished' in general.
その本、読み終わった？
Are you finished with that book?
今日の仕事は終わった。
I'm finished for the day.
ケーキが出来上がった。
The cake is finished.