とどまる

と

ど

ま

る

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Describes staying in a place, not leaving, or continuing to be in a state. Often used in the pattern ～にとどまる.

被ひ害がいは最さい小しょう限げんにとどまった。

The damage was limited to a minimum.

2

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

be limited to; be confined to; only account for

usually written using kana alone

Used when something does not exceed a certain range, amount, or degree. Often appears as ～にとどまる.

止とどまるUsage<1%
Common kanji spelling for 'remain, stay'. The reading とどまる is distinct from とまる.
とどまるUsage96%
Kana spelling is common.
留とどまるUsage4%
Also used for 'stay, remain', often interchangeable with 止まる.
停とどまる
Rare variant; 停 is more commonly read とまる for 'stop'.
駐とどまる
Rare variant; 駐 is typically used for parking vehicles and read とまる.

止とまる
とまる means 'to stop' (movement or function), while とどまる means 'to stay/remain' in a place or state.
留とまる
留まる (とまる) can also mean 'to stay' but is often used for birds perching or things being fixed; とどまる emphasizes not leaving a location or not exceeding a limit.

Compound of とど (likely related to 止む, 'to stop') + まる (intransitive suffix). The exact derivation is uncertain.

stop-over, reside in, resident