Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

書き留める (かきとめる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

書かき留とめる

か

き

と

め

る

JLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, transitive verb

write down; note down; record

General verb for putting something in writing so it is not forgotten; can be used for notes, records, or chronicling events.

彼かれの言こと葉ばをノートに書かき留とめた。
I wrote down his words in my notebook.
忘わすれないうちにアイデアを書

か

き

留と

め

て

おこう

。

Let me jot down the idea before I forget.

Written forms

書き留めるUsage45%
- かきとめる
  Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
- かきとどめる
書かきとめるUsage52%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, sometimes used for clarity or simplicity.
書かき止とめるUsage2%
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 止める is not the standard character for this meaning.
書かき留とめるUsage1%
Less common kanji combination; may be encountered but not standard.
かきとどめる

Kanji

書write
留detain, fasten, halt
止stop, halt

Similar words

メモする
More casual and often implies a quick, informal note, while 書き留める can be used for more deliberate recording.
記き録ろくする
Formal term for official records or documentation; 書き留める is more personal and less bureaucratic.

Etymology

Compound of 書き (continuative form of 書く 'to write') + 留める ('to stop, fasten'), literally 'to write and fasten', i.e., to fix in writing.