Translation guide
The English word "stall" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: delaying or avoiding action, a market booth, an engine stopping, and a shower compartment. Each meaning requires different Japanese expressions.
To intentionally delay doing something, avoid giving a clear answer, or cause a delay.
Literally 'to earn time'. The most common and natural way to say you are stalling for time.
He's stalling for time without answering the question.
To drag out or prolong something, often a conversation or negotiation.
They're trying to stall the negotiations.
To dawdle or dilly-dally, often used when someone is stalling by being slow.
Stop stalling and make a decision.
To dodge a question or evade giving a direct answer, often to stall.
He stalled by dodging the question.
A small temporary structure or table used to sell goods, especially at a market or fair.
A food stall or stand, often mobile, found at festivals or streets.
There are many stalls at the festival.
A small shop or stand, often inside a station, stadium, or facility.
A street stall or open-air market stand, often temporary.
Loanword from English, used for exhibition booths or fair stalls.
When a vehicle's engine suddenly stops working, often due to improper clutch use or mechanical failure.
Abbreviation of 'engine stall'. The standard casual term for stalling a car.
I stalled on the hill.
Literally 'the engine stops'. A more formal or descriptive way to say the engine stalled.
The engine suddenly stalled.
Direct loanword from English 'stall', used in technical contexts like aviation or engineering.
The plane stalled.
A small enclosed area for showering, often separate from the bathtub.
While 'stall' often means to delay, it implies a deliberate or evasive action. For simple delays, use 遅れる (おくれる) or 遅延 (ちえん).
屋台 is typically a movable food stall at festivals. 売店 is a fixed small shop inside a building. 露店 is a temporary open-air stall, often for non-food items.
駅の売店で飲み物を買った。
I bought a drink at the station stall.
They sell vegetables at a street stall.
We reserved a stall at the trade show.