Meaning and Usage
The verb 泊まる (とまる) means "to stay overnight" or "to lodge" somewhere. It is an intransitive verb, so it describes the subject staying at a place rather than causing someone else to stay.
Common Contexts
泊まる is frequently used when talking about staying at hotels, inns, friends' houses, or other accommodations during travel or visits. It implies spending at least one night.
Collocations and Patterns
- ホテルに泊まる: to stay at a hotel
- 友達の家に泊まる: to stay at a friend's house
- 一晩泊まる: to stay overnight
These phrases are very common in everyday conversation about travel or visiting.
Register and Politeness
泊まる is neutral and can be used in casual and polite speech. For more formal contexts, you might hear 泊まります (polite form).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 泊まる (to stay overnight) with 止まる (to stop). Although they share the same reading とまる, their meanings differ. Pay attention to context and kanji to avoid confusion.