止とめる

ichidan verb, transitive verb

prevent; suppress; hold back

Stopping an action or bodily function: suppressing a cough, holding back tears, stopping pain, etc. Often used with body-related nouns.

• 彼かれは咳せきを止とめようとした。

  He tried to suppress his cough.

• 痛いたみ止どめの薬くすりを飲のんだ。

  I took pain-relief medicine.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

stop (someone from doing); dissuade; forbid

Stopping a person from doing something, often through persuasion or prohibition. Commonly used with ～ようとする or ～のを.

• 母ははは私わたしが留りゅう学がくするのを止とめた。

  My mother stopped me from studying abroad.

• 彼かれを止とめようとしたが、聞きかなかった。

  I tried to dissuade him, but he wouldn't listen.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

notice; keep in mind; pay attention to

Only when written 留める

Used almost exclusively in set phrases like 気に留める (to keep in mind) and 目に留める (to notice). The kanji 留める is standard here.

See also: 目を留める · 気に留める

• 彼かれの言こと葉ばを気きに留とめておいてください。

  Please keep his words in mind.

• その名な前まえを記き憶おくに留とめておいた。

  I kept that name in my memory.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

fix; fasten; attach

Only when written 留める

Physically securing something in place: pinning, nailing, buttoning, stapling, etc. 留める is the standard kanji.

• 書しょ類るいをクリップで留とめた。

  I fastened the documents with a clip.

• ボタンを留とめるのを忘わすれた。

  I forgot to button up.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

detain; keep in custody

Only when written 留める

Holding someone in a place, often by authority. 留める is the standard kanji. Somewhat formal.

• 警けい察さつは容よう疑ぎ者しゃを署しょに留とめた。

  The police detained the suspect at the station.