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思いとどまる (おもいとどまる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
abandon (an idea) ; give up on (a plan) ; refrain from doing
Used when someone decides not to go through with a plan, intention, or action after reconsideration. Often implies a deliberate change of mind or self-restraint.
登と
山ざん
を
思おも
いとどまっ
た
。
Hearing it was dangerous, I abandoned the idea of climbing the mountain.
Written forms 思おも いとどまる Usage 78%
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; the most common written form.
思おも い 止とど まる Usage 15%
Alternate kanji spelling using 止; less common but still encountered.
思おも い 留とど まる Usage 6%
Rare kanji spelling using 留; may be seen in older or literary texts.
おもいとどまる Usage 1%
思おも い 止と どまる Usage <1%
Similar words 諦あきら める 諦める means to give up on something after trying or hoping, often with resignation. 思いとどまる focuses on stopping oneself from starting or continuing a plan, often after reconsideration.
断だん 念ねん する 断念する is a more formal or decisive 'abandonment' of a plan or desire. 思いとどまる is softer and implies a change of heart or heeding advice.
Etymology Compound of 思い (thought, intention) and とどまる (to stop, stay). The literal sense is 'one's thoughts come to a halt,' giving the meaning of abandoning an idea or plan.
