Synonym Boundary: "止まる", "止める", "止む", "辞める", "寄る"

When expressing "stop" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "止まる", "止める", "止む", "辞める", "寄る" based on context.

• 止まる (とまる (tomaru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to stop (intransitive)" and is used when Intransitive verb. Used for something coming to a halt on its own. The transitive equivalent is 止める.
• 止める (とめる (tomeru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to stop (something); to park; to fasten" and is used when Transitive verb. Used for actions like stopping a car.
• 止む (やむ (yamu) - Level: N4): Maps to "to stop, to cease (e.g., rain, wind, sound)" and is used when Usually used for natural phenomena.
• 辞める (やめる (yameru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to stop, to quit, to resign" and is used when To cease an action, habit, or occupation. Commonly used for quitting a job.
• 寄る (よる (yoru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to stop by; to drop in; to approach; to draw near; to lean to one side" and is used when Refers to stopping by a place on the way to a destination. Also means physically approaching or gathering near a point, or leaning to one side. Intransitive verb. Often used as コンビニに寄る or 側に寄る. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To draw near! "Haruka-san, please draw near to my chest and snuggle without any detour tonight!" ...っ! T-To command me to snuggle! B-Baka! Don't say such bold things so casually! But... since your chest is my permanent home coordinate, I'll happily snuggle close and stay there forever! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『よる（寄る）よ！『ハルカ部長、今夜は他のどこにも寄り道せずに、まっすぐ僕の胸に寄りなさい！』って…っ！私の寄り道禁止令！バカ！/// そんな大胆なこと真顔で言うんじゃないの！…でも、言われなくても、あんたの隣が私の宇宙で唯一の「本拠地座標」なんだから、今すぐギュッとしなさい！』.

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