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引き止める (ひきとめる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
ichidan verb, transitive verb
detain ; stop from leaving ; hold back
Used when physically or verbally preventing someone from leaving a place or situation. Often implies a polite or insistent attempt to make someone stay.
かの
女じょ
は
泣な
きながら
彼かれ
を
引ひ
き
止と
めよう
と
し
た
。
She tried to stop him from leaving, crying.
Written forms 引ひ き 止と める Usage 43%
Standard kanji spelling with high priority.
引ひ き 留と める Usage 20%
Alternate kanji spelling using 留 (detain/stop).
引ひ きとめる Usage 20%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, common in everyday writing.
ひきとめる Usage 13%
Full kana spelling; useful for learners and when kanji is not needed.
引ひき 止と める Usage 3%
Abbreviated kanji spelling; also high priority.
ひき 止と める Usage 1%
引ひき 留と める Usage <1%
Similar words 止と める 止める is a general verb for stopping something; 引き止める specifically means stopping someone from leaving by pulling them back or persuading them.
留とど める 留める means to detain or keep in place, often used for abstract things like attention; 引き止める is more physical and interpersonal.
Etymology Compound of 引き (hiki, continuative form of 引く 'pull') + 止める (tomeru, 'stop'). Literally 'pull and stop', referring to physically or figuratively holding someone back from leaving.
