What is the difference between "終わります", "おわる", "済ませる", "仕上がり", "仕上げる"?

"終わります" means "to finish, to end", "おわる" means "to finish, to end (intransitive)", "済ませる" means "to finish, to get done, to conclude", "仕上がり" means "finish, completion, result (of work)", "仕上げる" means "to finish; to complete; to perfect (transitive)".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "終わります", "おわる", "済ませる", "仕上がり", "仕上げる"

All represent the core concept "finish", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

終わります

おわります (owarimasu)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

おわる

おわる (owaru)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

済ませる

すませる (sumaseru)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

仕上がり

しあがり (shiagari)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

仕上げる

しあげる (shiageru)

N2 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "finish" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "終わります", "おわる", "済ませる", "仕上がり", "仕上げる" based on context.

終わります (おわります (owarimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to finish, to end" and is used when Intransitive verb. Used for events, tasks, or time periods coming to an end. Often paired with が..
おわる (おわる (owaru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to finish, to end (intransitive)" and is used when Intransitive verb. Something finishes by itself. The transitive form is 「終える.
済ませる (すませる (sumaseru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to finish, to get done, to conclude" and is used when Transitive verb. Often used for completing tasks, duties, or errands. 「用事を済ませる」.
仕上がり (しあがり (shiagari) - Level: N3): Maps to "finish, completion, result (of work)" and is used when Refers to the final state or quality of something after it has been completed. Often used for products, clothes, or tasks..
仕上げる (しあげる (shiageru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to finish; to complete; to perfect (transitive)" and is used when 作業や作品を完全に終わらせる、または最後の仕上げをする、という能動的な行為を表す他動詞です。重点は「完成させる行為」にあります。.

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "終わります"

授業は3時に終わります。

The class finishes at 3 o'clock.

Context for "おわる"

会議は5時に終わります。

The meeting ends at 5 o'clock.

Context for "済ませる"

宿題を早く済ませて遊びに行った。

I finished my homework quickly and went out to play.

Context for "仕上がり"

このセーターの仕上がりはとてもきれいです。

The finish of this sweater is very beautiful.

Context for "仕上げる"

今夜までにレポートを仕上げなければならない。

I have to finish the report by tonight.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "授業は3時に＿＿＿。" (Meaning: "The class finishes at 3 o'clock.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "終わります" is correct here because it represents "to finish, to end" in the context: "The class finishes at 3 o'clock.".