Usage of 止める (やめる)
The verb 止める (やめる) primarily means "to stop" or "to quit" an action or habit. It is commonly used when someone decides to end something they have been doing, such as quitting smoking, stopping a job, or ceasing an activity.
Common Contexts
- Quitting habits or addictions (e.g., タバコを止める)
- Resigning from work or stopping a role (e.g., 仕事を止める)
- Stopping an ongoing action or behavior (e.g., ゲームを止める)
Collocations and Patterns
- ～を止める: to stop doing something (direct object marked by を)
- 仕事を止める: to quit a job
- タバコを止める: to quit smoking
Register and Politeness
止める is a neutral verb and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. When speaking formally, it is often combined with polite forms like 止めます.
Common Confusion
Learners sometimes confuse 止める (やめる, to stop/quit) with 止まる (とまる, to stop [intransitive]). Remember 止める is transitive (you stop something), while 止まる is intransitive (something stops by itself).