What is the difference between "終わります", "終わる", "終える", "済ませる", "仕上がり"?

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

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "終わります", "終わる", "終える", "済ませる", "仕上がり"

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

終わる

おわる (owaru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

終える

おえる (oeru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

済ませる

すませる (sumaseru)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

仕上がり

しあがり (shiagari)

N3 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "finish" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "終わります", "終わる", "終える", "済ませる", "仕上がり" 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..
終わる (おわる (owaru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to finish, to end (intransitive)" and is used when Intransitive verb. Used for things that finish by themselves or a process ending. The transitive form is 終える.
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..

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 "終わる"

仕事は5時に終わります。

Work finishes at 5 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.

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.".