止まります（とまります、tomariまsu）
- to stop

The Japanese word 止まります (pronounced とまります, *tomarimasu*) primarily means "to stop," "to halt," or "to come to a stop." It describes the action of ceasing movement. It can apply to various subjects, including vehicles, objects, and even abstract concepts. It also implies a state of being at rest or no longer in motion. ⚫︎ It can refer to physical stopping, like a car stopping at a traffic light. ⚫︎ It can also refer to ceasing an activity, like a meeting ending. ⚫︎ The word emphasizes the cessation of motion or activity, leading to a state of stillness or completion. ⚫︎ In some contexts, it can also mean "to be fixed," "to be settled," or "to be determined." ⚫︎ This word is a verb.

⚫︎ バスが 止まります Translation: The bus stops. ⚫︎ 電車は駅に 止まりました Translation: The train stopped at the station. ⚫︎ 雨が 止まりません Translation: The rain doesn't stop.

⚫︎ You use 止まります when something or someone ceases movement or action. ⚫︎ Use the plain form 止まる to speak informally. ⚫︎ Use it when talking about vehicles, activities, or anything that can come to a halt. ⚫︎ It's a common verb used in everyday conversation. ⚫︎ The tense and politeness level will depend on the situation. ⚫︎ Be mindful of the context to understand exactly what is stopping.

⚫︎ The basic form is 止まる (*tomaru*), written in kanji 止 and hiragana まる. ⚫︎ The polite form is 止まります (*tomarimasu*), written in kanji 止 and hiragana まります. ⚫︎ The kanji 止 itself means "stop," "halt," or "cease." ⚫︎ The okurigana is まります for the polite form. ⚫︎ The stem of the verb is 止まり. ⚫︎ Can be written in hiragana as とまります.

⚫︎ 停まる (*tomaru*) - almost the same, often used for more formal situations or to emphasize the act of halting (primarily for vehicles) ⚫︎ 休む (*yasumu*) - To take a rest (can imply stopping an activity). ⚫︎ 終わる (*owaru*) - To end, finish (for activities or events). ⚫︎ 終える (*oeru*) - To finish, complete (formal).

⚫︎ 動きます (*ugokimasu*) - To move. ⚫︎ 進みます (*susumimasu*) - To proceed, to go forward. ⚫︎ 始まります (*hajimarimasu*) - To begin, to start.

信号で車が 止まりました。 ・Translation: The car stopped at the traffic light. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the action of a car coming to a stop due to a traffic signal. The use of past tense, 止まりました, indicates that the stopping action has already completed.

会議は5時に 止まります。 ・Translation: The meeting will stop at 5 o'clock. ・Explanation: This example explains that the meeting will end. 止まります refers to the cessation of activity. The future tense implies the meeting is scheduled to stop at that time.

⚫︎ The verb 止まる (*tomaru*) is derived from the kanji 止, which signifies "to stop," "to halt," or "to cease." ⚫︎ The kanji's meaning directly relates to the verb's core function of conveying the idea of something coming to a stop. ⚫︎ There are no confirmed etymological details.