終わった？
Owatta?
The English phrase "are you finished?" is translated into Japanese as 終わった？ (Owatta?)
This phrase is used to ask if a task, an event or a period of time has concluded.
What does it mean word for word?
終わった is the past tense of the verb 終わる (to end or to finish).
Which one should you use?
終わった？ translates to "Finished?", while adding the word もう results in もう終わった？, which means "Are you already finished?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
終わった？ is an informal version used with friends or family. For a formal way to say "Are you finished?", use お済みですか？
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form of the phrase is 終わりましたか？
How do you pronounce it?
Owatta?
Did you know?
- In Japanese, 終わった can be used as a slang exclamation meaning 'I am doomed' or 'It is over for me' when someone makes a terrible mistake.
- In Japanese, even if you are asking a person if they have finished a task, you often use the intransitive verb 終わる instead of the transitive 終わらせる. This shifts the focus from the person completing the action to the task itself reaching its natural conclusion.
- In a business context, asking 終わった？ too directly can sound like a demand or a reprimand, so speakers often add 〜かな to soften the question.
Examples in context
- 宿題、終わった？shukudai, owatta?Are you finished with your homework?
- 仕事はもう終わった？shigoto wa mou owatta?Are you finished with work already?
- ゲームはもう終わった？geemu wa mou owatta?Are you finished with the game?
Example conversation
At home, Hinata asks Hinata if he is finished eating.
- 陽葵 Himariご飯、終わった？gohan, owatta?Are you finished with your meal?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、終わったよ。un, owatta yo.Yeah, I'm finished.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、お皿を運んで。jaa, osara o hakonde.Then, please carry the plates.
- 陽太 Yotaわかったよ。wakatta yo.Okay.
