What is the difference between "終わる", "終える", "仕上がり", "〜終わる", "仕上げる"?

"終わる" means "to finish, to end (intransitive)", "終える" means "to finish, to complete (transitive)", "仕上がり" means "finish, completion, result (of work)", "〜終わる" means "to finish doing; to end", "仕上げる" means "to finish; to complete; to perfect (transitive)".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "終わる", "終える", "仕上がり", "〜終わる", "仕上げる"

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

Japanese Option A

終わる

おわる (owaru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

終える

おえる (oeru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

仕上がり

しあがり (shiagari)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

〜終わる

〜おわる (owaru)

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 "終わる", "終える", "仕上がり", "〜終わる", "仕上げる" based on context.

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.
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.
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 "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.

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: "仕事は5時に終わります。" (Meaning: "Work finishes at 5 o'clock.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "終わる" is correct here because it represents "to finish, to end (intransitive)" in the context: "Work finishes at 5 o'clock.".