What is the difference between "終わります", "終える", "済む", "仕上がり", "〜終わる"?

"終わります" means "to finish, to end", "終える" means "to finish, to complete (transitive)", "済む" means "to finish, to be completed, to be settled; to suffice", "仕上がり" means "finish, completion, result (of work)", "〜終わる" means "to finish doing; to end".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "終わります", "終える", "済む", "仕上がり", "〜終わる"

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

終える

おえる (oeru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

済む

すむ (sumu)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

仕上がり

しあがり (shiagari)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

〜終わる

〜おわる (owaru)

N3 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "finish" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "終わります", "終える", "済む", "仕上がり", "〜終わる" 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..
終える (おえる (oeru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to finish, to complete (transitive)" and is used when A transitive verb, meaning 'to finish something'. Similar to the intransitive 終わる.
済む (すむ (sumu) - Level: N4): Maps to "to finish, to be completed, to be settled; to suffice" and is used when This verb often indicates that a task or event has come to an end or been completed. It can also mean that a problem has been resolved, or that something is sufficient/enough for a purpose..
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..
〜終わる (〜おわる (owaru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to finish doing; to end" and is used when Indicates the completion or end of an action or event. It is attached to the masu-stem.

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 "終える"

宿題を終えてから遊びに行きます。

I will go play after finishing my homework.

Context for "済む"

今日の仕事はもう済んだ。

Today's work is already finished.

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 "〜終わる"

仕事が終わり次第、帰ります。

I will go home as soon as I finish work.

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.".