Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 終わる | owaru | [o̞β̞a̠ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 終了する | shūryō suru |
The verb 終わる is used to describe things that finish or are terminated. It is an intransitive verb, which means it is used to describe something that ends on its own.
Which one should you use?
終わる is used for everyday activities such as school, work or a movie ending. In contrast, 終了する is used for more official processes, scheduled events, computer programs or the formal termination of a project or contract. For theatrical performances like a play or a concert, the specific term 終幕 is used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
終了する is a more formal, technical or administrative way to say 'to terminate' or 'to complete'. For a casual and friendly way to express the end, you can use おしまい.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of 終わる is 終わった, which is used to state that something has finished or is over.
How do you pronounce it?
owaru
Did you know?
- The phrase 終わった can be used as a slang exclamation meaning 'I am doomed' or 'my life is over', even if nothing has actually physically ended.
- In Japanese storytelling, the word 完 is often placed at the end of a manga volume or a movie, serving as a single-character equivalent to the English word 'Fin'.
- The casual word おしまい is often used by children to signal the end of a game or a story, but adults use it ironically to mean 'it is all over' when they have made a fatal mistake.
Examples in context
- いつ終わるの？When does it end?This sentence is useful for asking when something will finish.Tatoeba #228649 by bunbuku, translation #66007 by CK
- 学校は何時に終わるの？What time does school end?This sentence is useful for asking what time school finishes.Tatoeba #10206436 by small_snow, translation #9713590 by DJ_Saidez
- 映画は何時に終わるの？What time does the movie end?This sentence is useful for asking what time a movie finishes.Tatoeba #10614667 by small_snow, translation #10614662 by Amastan
- 映画の 終わり (Eiga no owari )The end of the movie
- プロジェクトの 終了 (Purojekuto no shūryō )Project completion
- 演劇の 終幕 (Engeki no shūmaku )The end of the theater performance
- ランチの おしまい (Ranchi no oshimai )The end of lunch
- 勉強が 終わった (Benkyō ga owatta )I finished studying
- 昨日、パーティーが おわった (Kinō, pātī ga owatta )Yesterday, the party ended
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing the end of a concert.
- 大翔 Hirotoコンサートはもうすぐ終わるよ。Konsaato wa mousugu owaru yo.The concert will end soon.
- 陽葵 Himari本当？残念だけど、もうすぐ終わるんだね。Honto? Zannen dakedo, mousugu owaru nda ne.Really? It's a shame, but it's ending soon, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、準備はできてる？Himari, junbi wa dekiteru?Himari, are you ready?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、大丈夫だよ。Un, daijoubu da yo.Yeah, I'm okay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “end” translations and entries 終わる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
