止まる (tomaru) and 止める (tomeru) are one of the most important transitive/intransitive verb pairs in Japanese. They are both written with the same kanji 止, both relate to stopping, and they sound almost identical — but one is something that happens to a subject, and the other is something a person does to an object. Getting this distinction right is essential for natural Japanese. This guide explains the difference clearly, gives you real examples, and helps you stop second-guessing which one to use.
YukaQuick question, Rei — when should I use 止まる versus 止める?
ReiAh, a classic mix-up! They’re related but definitely not interchangeable. I’ll explain with examples and it’ll make perfect sense.
At a Glance: 止まる vs. 止める
| Feature | 止まる (tomaru) | 止める (tomeru) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | とまる (tomaru) | とめる (tomeru) |
| Verb type | Intransitive (自動詞) | Transitive (他動詞) |
| Core meaning | Come to a stop / be stopped | Stop something / cause to stop |
| Subject | The thing that stops (train, car, heart…) | The person who stops something |
| Particle used | が (subject particle) | を (object particle) |
| English equivalent | “The train stops” (no agent) | “Stop the train” (someone acts) |
| JLPT level | N4 | N4 |
止まる (tomaru) — Something Stops by Itself
止まる is an intransitive verb (自動詞 — jidoushi). This means the subject of the sentence undergoes the action of stopping — nothing external forces it. The train stops. The clock stops. The rain stops. In each case, the thing itself comes to a stop.
The key grammatical marker: with 止まる, the thing that stops is marked by が (or は for topic). You will NOT see を before 止まる in standard usage.
Example 1 — a train stopping:
電車が止まる。
Densha ga tomaru.
The train stops.
Example 2 — a package stuck in transit:
荷物が止まっている。
Nimotsu ga tomatte iru.
The package is stuck / stopped.
Example 3 — a heart stopping:
息が止まるほど驚いた。
Iki ga tomaru hodo odoroita.
I was so surprised my breath stopped. (I was breathless with surprise.)
YukaOh interesting! So 止まる can mean that too? I only knew the basic meaning.
ReiYes! 止まる is more versatile than most learners realize. Native speakers use it in all sorts of situations — not just the obvious ones.
止める (tomeru) — You Stop Something
止める is a transitive verb (他動詞 — tadoushi). This means a person (the agent) acts on an object to cause it to stop. You stop the car. You stop the music. You stop a bad situation. The key grammatical marker: the thing being stopped is marked by を.
止める is also used figuratively — for stopping a person from doing something, or preventing something from happening.
Example 1 — stopping a car:
車を止めてください。
Kuruma wo tomete kudasai.
Please stop the car.
Example 2 — stopping someone:
彼を止めて！
Kare wo tomete!
Stop him!
Example 3 — stopping bleeding:
出血を止める必要がある。
Shukketsu wo tomeru hitsuyou ga aru.
It is necessary to stop the bleeding.
YukaWhat about 止める? Is it used as often as 止まる in daily conversation?
Rei止める is super common too! The two words actually complement each other really well once you understand both.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Situation | 止まる (intransitive) | 止める (transitive) |
|---|---|---|
| The train halts at the station | 電車が駅で止まる ✓ | — |
| The driver stops the train | — | 運転士が電車を止める ✓ |
| The rain stops | 雨が止まる ✓ | — |
| You stop a taxi | — | タクシーを止める ✓ |
| The clock stops working | 時計が止まる ✓ | — |
| You stop a quarrel | — | けんかを止める ✓ |
Other Kanji Readings: 泊まる vs. 留まる
The sound とまる (tomaru) appears in two other kanji as well, with completely different meanings:
泊まる (tomaru) — to stay overnight (at a hotel, someone’s house, etc.). The kanji 泊 relates to water and nights by water — hence “lodging.”
ホテルに泊まる。
Hoteru ni tomaru.
To stay at a hotel.
留まる (tomaru) — to remain / to stay in place (often used figuratively, e.g., “stay within bounds,” “remain in memory”).
記憶に留まる。
Kioku ni tomaru.
To remain in memory.
Decision Flowchart: 止まる or 止める?
You want to use とまる/とめる (stop) in Japanese.
|
v
Who/what is doing the stopping?
/ \
/ \
The thing ITSELF A PERSON acts
comes to a stop on something
(no external agent) to cause it to stop
| |
v v
止まる (とまる) 止める (とめる)
Intransitive Transitive
Particle: が Particle: を
Example:
電車が止まる 電車を止める
(The train stops) (Stop the train)Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!
YukaAlright, I think I understand both now. Time for a quiz to check!
ReiThat’s the spirit! Testing yourself is one of the best study techniques. Ready?
Fill in the blank with 止まる or 止める (use the appropriate form).
Q1. The bus stopped in front of the station.
バスが駅の前で＿＿＿。
Basu ga eki no mae de ___.
Answer: 止まった (tomatta)
Reason: The bus itself came to a stop — intransitive 止まる.
Q2. Please stop the car here.
ここで車を＿＿＿てください。
Koko de kuruma wo ___ te kudasai.
Answer: 止め (tome) → 止めてください
Reason: You (the person) are asking the driver to stop the car — transitive 止める.
Q3. My watch stopped.
時計が＿＿＿た。
Tokei ga ___ ta.
Answer: 止まっ (tomatte) → 止まった
Reason: The watch stopped by itself — intransitive 止まる.
Q4. He stopped the bleeding.
彼は出血を＿＿＿た。
Kare wa shukketsu wo ___ ta.
Answer: 止め (tome) → 止めた
Reason: He acted on the bleeding to stop it — transitive 止める with を.
Q5. The rain finally stopped.
やっと雨が＿＿＿た。
Yatto ame ga ___ ta.
Answer: 止まっ (tomatte) → 止まった
Reason: The rain stopped on its own — intransitive 止まる.
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あわせて読みたい
Want to learn more Japanese transitive / intransitive verb pairs? These guides cover other commonly confused pairs:
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