Translation guide
The English verb 'quit' covers leaving a job, stopping an activity or habit, and giving up on something. In Japanese, different words and patterns are used depending on what is being quit and the nuance.
仕事を辞めたいです。
I want to quit my job.
タバコをやめました。
I quit smoking.
To resign from a job, leave a company, or step down from a role.
The most common and neutral way to say you quit a job, club, or organization. Can be used for both full-time and part-time work.
会社を辞めたいです。
I want to quit my job.
彼は先月仕事を辞めた。
He quit his job last month.
A formal term for resigning or retiring from a job. Often used in official contexts or when leaving a career position.
来月退職する予定です。
I plan to resign next month.
Literally 'to submit a resignation letter'. Used when formally handing in your notice.
辞表を出して会社を辞めた。
I submitted my resignation and quit the company.
To stop doing something regularly, such as a hobby, a bad habit, or a recurring action.
The general verb for stopping an action you have been doing. Works for habits, hobbies, and repeated behaviors. Note: this is the same word as 辞める but usually written in kana when not referring to a job.
To stop attempting something because it's difficult or hopeless.
To leave a location, often permanently or abruptly.
To leave a place, often with a sense of finality. Can be used for quitting a town, country, or organization.
To exit or close a software application.
Standard term for quitting or exiting a program. Used in menus and technical contexts.
アプリを終了してください。
Please quit the application.
辞める (やめる) is specifically for quitting a role or membership. やめる (kana) is for stopping an action or habit. 諦める (あきらめる) is for giving up on a goal or attempt. Using the wrong one can change the meaning.
Using 辞める for quitting a habit like smoking sounds odd. Use kana やめる or other specific verbs like 断つ.
タバコをやめたい。
I want to quit smoking.
毎日のお菓子をやめることにした。
I decided to quit eating sweets every day.
Pattern: [noun] + をやめる. Use this to quit a specific thing or activity.
ゲームをやめる時間だ。
It's time to quit playing games.
To cut off or abstain from something, often used for addictive substances or strong habits. More emphatic than やめる.
酒を断って健康になった。
I quit drinking and became healthy.
Literally 'to graduate', but used figuratively to mean quitting something you've outgrown, like a childish habit or a phase. Often used humorously.
もう夜更かしは卒業した。
I've quit staying up late (I've graduated from that).
To give up on a goal, dream, or attempt. Implies accepting that something is impossible or not worth continuing.
夢を諦めたくない。
I don't want to quit my dream.
彼はすぐに諦めてしまう。
He quits too easily.
Can also mean to stop doing something midway, like quitting a game or a task. Less emotional than 諦める.
途中でやめないでください。
Please don't quit halfway.
To throw in the towel, abandon something halfway. Has a nuance of irresponsibility or giving up too easily.
仕事を投げ出すわけにはいかない。
I can't just quit my job (abandon it).
彼は故郷を去った。
He quit his hometown (left for good).
To leave a place, often abruptly or after a confrontation. More dramatic than 去る.
彼は何も言わずに立ち去った。
He quit the room without saying anything.
To close a window or app. More casual and common in everyday speech than 終了する.
そのウィンドウを閉じて。
Quit that window.
Slang for quitting or killing a process, often used in IT contexts. Literally 'to drop'.
サーバーを落として再起動した。
I quit the server and restarted it.
✕ タバコを辞める
(incorrect for quitting smoking)
○ タバコをやめる
quit smoking (correct)
✕ タバコを辞める
(incorrect for quitting smoking)
○ タバコをやめる
quit smoking (correct)