🦅 Project Eagle
Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "止まる", "辞める", "寄る", "打ち切る"

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

Japanese Option A

止まる

とまる (tomaru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option B

辞める

やめる (yameru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C

寄る

よる (yoru)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option D

打ち切る

うちきる (uchikiru)
N2 / CEFR

Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "stop" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "止まる", "辞める", "寄る", "打ち切る" 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.
  • 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!』.
  • 打ち切る (うちきる (uchikiru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to stop, to discontinue, to cancel" and is used when Implies a sudden or decisive halt to something, often a project, discussion, or broadcast, due to various reasons..
Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!
Context for "止まる"
電車が駅に止まりました。
The train stopped at the station.
Context for "辞める"
彼は先月、会社を辞めました。
He quit his job last month.
Context for "寄る"
彼は平日のハードな仕事を終えた後、自宅へ帰る途中で最寄りのスーパーに_______、新鮮な夕食の食材を購入しました。
After finishing hard work on a weekday, he stopped by the nearest supermarket on the way home and purchased fresh ingredients for dinner.
Context for "打ち切る"
予算不足のため、そのプロジェクトは途中で打ち切られた。
Due to a lack of budget, that project was discontinued halfway through.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "電車が駅に止まりました。" (Meaning: "The train stopped at the station.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "止まる" is correct here because it represents "to stop (intransitive)" in the context: "The train stopped at the station.".