Meaning
From street signs to digital "stop" buttons, the kanji 止 is everywhere. It represents the core concept of cessation or halting. While it often describes a physical stop, it also covers abstract ideas like quitting a habit or weather clearing up. As an N4 level character taught in the second grade, it is a vital building block for more complex kanji related to movement.
Historically, 止 is a pictograph of a human footprint. In ancient script, it clearly showed a foot with toes, capturing the moment a foot is planted firmly on the ground. This visual evolved to mean "halt." Interestingly, this character also acts as a radical. You will find it tucked inside common kanji like 歩 (walk) and 走 (run), where it provides a hint about movement and the feet.
In daily life, the nuance shifts based on the verb form used. It can describe a car pulling over, a person resigning from a job, or an event being cancelled due to rain. Its four-stroke simplicity makes it easy to write, but its wide range of meanings makes it a powerhouse in the Japanese language.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary on'yomi is シ (shi). You will encounter this reading almost exclusively in compound words (kango). These words tend to be more formal, appearing in news reports, legal documents, or official announcements.
- 停止 (teishi) — suspension, a temporary stop
- 中止 (chuushi) — cancellation, calling something off
- 禁止 (kinshi) — prohibition, a ban
- 廃止 (haishi) — abolition, or doing away with a law
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Native readings are used when the kanji is a standalone verb or followed by hiragana (okurigana). These are the versions you'll use in casual conversation and most sentence-level contexts.
と・まる (tomaru) vs. と・める (tomeru): This is a classic intransitive/transitive pair. Use tomaru when something stops on its own, like a clock. Use tomeru when you actively stop something, like parking a bike.
- 止まる (tomaru) — to come to a halt (intransitive)
- 止める (tomeru) — to stop/park something (transitive)
や・める (yameru) vs. や・む (yamu): These readings focus on the end of an action or state. Yameru is commonly used for quitting habits or jobs. Yamu is specifically used for natural phenomena like rain or noise dying down.
- 雨が止む (ame ga yamu) — the rain stops
- 止める (yameru) — to quit or resign
Common Words & Compounds
This character is highly versatile. Here are some common ways you will see it used in different contexts.
Physical Movement
- 行き止まり (ikidomari) — a dead end or cul-de-sac
- 立ち止まる (tachidomaru) — to pause or stop in one's tracks
- 足止め (ashidome) — being grounded or held back
Common Idioms & Practical Terms
- 滑り止め (suberidome) — anti-slip grip (or a safety school for exams)
- 口止め (kuchidome) — silencing someone or swearing them to secrecy
- 波止場 (hatoba) — a wharf or pier where ships stop
- 防止 (boushi) — prevention (e.g., crime prevention)
Example Sentences
赤い信号で車が止まりました。
akai shingou de kuruma ga tomarimashita.
The car stopped at the red light.
ここに車を止めないでください。
koko ni kuruma wo tomenaide kudasai.
Please do not park your car here.
雨が止んだら、買い物に行きましょう。
ame ga yandara, kaimono ni ikimashou.
Let's go shopping once the rain stops.
健康のためにタバコを止めました。
kenkou no tame ni tabako wo yamemashita.
I quit smoking for the sake of my health.
台風の影響で、コンサートは中止です。
taifuu no eikyou de, konsaato wa chuushi desu.
The concert is cancelled due to the typhoon.
Related Kanji
- 走 — Run, Move fast (Kanji N4)
- 終 — End, Finish, Conclude (Kanji N4)
- 弟 — Younger Brother, Junior (Kanji N4)
- 洗 — Wash (Kanji N4)
- 田 — Rice Field (Kanji N4)
- 思 — To Think, Feel, Imagine (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
Think of 止 as a footprint left in the mud. The vertical stroke is the heel, and the horizontal strokes are the toes. Imagine someone walking along and then stomping their foot down hard to "stop" themselves from walking off a ledge. You can also see it as a small fence or barrier blocking a path, telling you to go no further.