synonym Comparative
止める
VS
さじを投げる
Differences Between "止める" and "さじを投げる"
Option A
止める
Meaning
to stop; to cease; to turn off; to park; to quit; to abandon
Reading
とめる (tomeru) / やめる (yameru)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
彼は打合せの場所に遅れないよう、スマートにオフィスの地下駐車場にスマートEV車を_______ました。
In order not to be late for the meeting, he smartly parked his smart EV car in the basement parking lot of the office.
Option B
さじを投げる
Meaning
to give up, to throw in the towel, to abandon (a difficult task/person)
Reading
さじをなげる (saji o nageru)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
何度教えても理解しないので、先生もついにさじを投げた。
Even the teacher finally gave up because no matter how many times he taught, the student wouldn't understand.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(to stop; to cease; to turn off; to park; to quit; to abandon)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 止める: Refers to actively stopping motion (stopping a car, parking, turning off taps/engines), or quitting an action/habit (quitting smoking/jobs). Transitive verb. Opposing word: 動かす / 始める. Often used as 車を止める or タバコを止める. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To stop/quit! "Nobody in the world can stop my passionate love for you, Haruka-san!" ...っ! Stopping love! B-Baka! That unshakeable devotion of yours is secretly very reliable... Then, with that momentum, continue to hold my heart tight for the rest of your life! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『とめる（止める）よ！『ハルカ部長、僕のあなたへの熱烈な愛は、世界中の誰も止める（止めることはできません）！』って…っ！愛を止める！バカ！/// その unshakeable な一途さ、本当は凄く頼もしいんだから…じゃあ、その勢いのまま、一生私のハートを抱きしめ続けなさい！』
- さじを投げる: Idiomatic expression. Implies giving up due to difficulty or hopelessness, often after trying for a while. It can be used for a task, a problem, or even a person (like a student who won't learn). 「匙を投げる」は、困難な状況や解決不可能な問題に対し、努力をあきらめてしまうことを意味する慣用句です。
- 止める: Refers to actively stopping motion (stopping a car, parking, turning off taps/engines), or quitting an action/habit (quitting smoking/jobs). Transitive verb. Opposing word: 動かす / 始める. Often used as 車を止める or タバコを止める. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To stop/quit! "Nobody in the world can stop my passionate love for you, Haruka-san!" ...っ! Stopping love! B-Baka! That unshakeable devotion of yours is secretly very reliable... Then, with that momentum, continue to hold my heart tight for the rest of your life! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『とめる（止める）よ！『ハルカ部長、僕のあなたへの熱烈な愛は、世界中の誰も止める（止めることはできません）！』って…っ！愛を止める！バカ！/// その unshakeable な一途さ、本当は凄く頼もしいんだから…じゃあ、その勢いのまま、一生私のハートを抱きしめ続けなさい！』
- さじを投げる: Idiomatic expression. Implies giving up due to difficulty or hopelessness, often after trying for a while. It can be used for a task, a problem, or even a person (like a student who won't learn). 「匙を投げる」は、困難な状況や解決不可能な問題に対し、努力をあきらめてしまうことを意味する慣用句です。
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