Explore 止 through stopping, parking and prohibition. Connect each reading with a complete word and a useful context.

The idea

止 has 4 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. Read 止まる（とまる）, 止める（とめる）, 中止（ちゅうし）, 禁止（きんし） as whole words. The table shows each reading in context.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
止まるとまるThe trains have stopped because of heavy rain.
止めるとめるI park this car here.
中止ちゅうしThe game is canceled in rainy weather.
禁止きんしParking is prohibited here.

Examples

  • 大雨おおあめで電車でんしゃが止とまっています。The trains have stopped because of heavy rain.
  • 雨天うてんの場合ばあい、試合しあいは中止ちゅうしです。The game is canceled in rainy weather.
  • 特急とっきゅうは次つぎの駅えきに止とまります。The limited express stops at the next station.
  • この車くるまをここに止とめます。I park this car here.
  • 学校がっこうの前まえで車くるまが止とまります。A car stops in front of the school.
  • ここは駐車ちゅうしゃ禁止きんしです。Parking is prohibited here.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

止まる is intransitive: 車が止まる means a car stops. 止める is transitive: 車を止める means stopping or parking a car. Compare 止 with 正: notice their different parts.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 止まる in hiragana.

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    とまる

    止まる is read とまる. In context: The trains have stopped because of heavy rain. Learn the reading with the whole word.

  2. Write the reading of 止める in hiragana.

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    とめる

    止める is read とめる. In context: I park this car here. Learn the reading with the whole word.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 中＿（ちゅうし）［止／正］.

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    止

    止 completes 中止, read ちゅうし. In context: The game is canceled in rainy weather.

Use it today

Write 止 using the stroke-order diagram. Cover the table, read 止まる and 止める, and make a sentence with one of them.