Quintuple VS
Synonym Boundary: "止める", "止む", "辞める", "寄る", "とどめる"
All represent the core concept "stop", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
止める
とめる (tomeru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
止む
やむ (yamu)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
辞める
やめる (yameru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
寄る
よる (yoru)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option E
とどめる
とどめる (todomeru)
N2 / CEFR
Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "stop" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "止める", "止む", "辞める", "寄る", "とどめる" based on context.
- 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！』.
- とどめる (とどめる (todomeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to stop, to keep, to retain, to hold" and is used when 他動詞。漢字は「留める」や「止める」があり、文脈によって使い分ける。「留める」は、ある状態を維持する、記憶に残す、固定する。「止める」は、動きや進行を停止させる。.
Context for "止める"
ここに車を止めてもいいですか。
May I park my car here?
Context for "止む"
雨が止んだら、出かけましょう。
Let's go out when the rain stops.
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 "とどめる"
彼は心にその光景を留めた。
He kept that scene in his mind.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "ここに車を止めてもいいですか。" (Meaning: "May I park my car here?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "止める" is correct here because it represents "to stop (something); to park; to fasten" in the context: "May I park my car here?".