Translation guide
The English word "stop" covers many different situations. This guide breaks them down by meaning and gives natural Japanese expressions for each.
To stop moving, or to stop doing something.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to stop' (movement, machine, etc.). Use when something stops by itself.
The car stopped.
The clock has stopped.
Transitive verb meaning 'to stop' something. Use when someone stops something intentionally.
He stopped the car.
Please stop the music.
To stop doing an activity, to quit. Often used for habits or ongoing actions.
I stopped smoking.
Stop crying.
To stop walking, to pause while standing.
He suddenly stopped walking.
To cause a vehicle or machine to stop operating.
To stop something from happening, to prevent.
To stop doing something, to end an action.
Pattern: verb nominalized with の + をやめる. Very common for stopping an action.
I stopped eating.
Direct object + をやめる. Used for stopping a noun activity (e.g., work, game).
I want to stop working (quit my job).
To stop at a place during a journey, to drop by.
A place where a bus or train regularly stops.
Telling someone to stop an action.
止める (とめる) is for stopping physical movement or machines. やめる is for stopping an activity or quitting. 車を止める (stop the car) vs タバコをやめる (quit smoking).
The loanword ストップ is used in specific contexts like sports, music, or as a button label, but it's not a general verb. Use Japanese verbs instead.
The bus stopped.
Please stop talking.
I stopped at the store.
ここに車を停めてもいいですか。
Can I stop the car here?
彼を止めようとしたが、無理だった。
I tried to stop him, but it was impossible.
途中で銀行に立ち寄った。
I stopped at the bank on the way.
I got off the train at Tokyo Station.