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.
I want to quit my job.
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.
I want to quit my job.
A formal term for resigning or retiring from a job. Often used in official contexts or when leaving a career position.
I plan to resign next month.
Literally 'to submit a resignation letter'. Used when formally handing in your notice.
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.
He quit his job last month.
I want to quit smoking.
I decided to quit eating sweets every day.
Pattern: [noun] + をやめる. Use this to quit a specific thing or activity.
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.
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.
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.
I don't want to quit my dream.
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.
Please don't quit halfway.
To throw in the towel, abandon something halfway. Has a nuance of irresponsibility or giving up too easily.
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.
He quit the room without saying anything.
Please quit the application.
To close a window or app. More casual and common in everyday speech than 終了する.
Quit that window.
Slang for quitting or killing a process, often used in IT contexts. Literally 'to drop'.
I quit the server and restarted it.
quit smoking
give up on a dream
Using 辞める for quitting a habit like smoking sounds odd. Use kana やめる or other specific verbs like 断つ.