Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 止まっている | tomatte iru | general |
| 静止した | seishi shita | formal |
When you want to describe someone or something that is not in motion, use 止まっている. For a more technical or formal description of a stationary state, use 静止した. Note that if you mean 'still' in the sense of 'even now' or 'continuing to be', such as 'he is still here', you would use the word まだ (mada) or the formal 依然 (izen) instead.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 止まっている is derived from the verb 止まる (to stop) used in the ~te iru form, which indicates a continuous state of being stopped or staying stopped.
Which one should you use?
止まっている is used for general descriptions of objects or people that are not moving. In contrast, 静止した is a more technical term used to describe a state of being stationary, commonly found in scientific, photographic or official contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
止まっている is a general-purpose form. 静止した is a formal term used in more professional or technical settings.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
tomatte iru
Did you know?
- To tell a child to 'stay still', Japanese speakers often use じっとして (jitto shite), which comes from an onomatopoeic root describing a state of tension and stillness.
- If you want to describe a 'still life' painting, you would not use 止まっている. Instead, Japanese uses the phrase 静物画 (seibutsu-ga), which literally means 'still object picture'.
- In Japanese, you cannot use the word for 'still' (stationary) to describe a person's quiet personality. To describe someone who is calm or quiet, you would use 静か (shizuka) instead.
Examples in context
- まだ終わっていません。(It) is still not finished.
- まだ来ていません。(He/She) has not arrived yet.
- 依然として問題が残っています。The problem still remains.
- まだ起きているの？Are you still awake?
- まだやっていないの！？You still haven't done it!?
- 遅刻するんじゃないかと思ったけど、やっぱり来た。I thought you might be late, but you still came.
- 車が止まっている。kuruma ga tomatte iru.The car is still.
- 彼は何もせず止まっている。kare wa nani mo sezu tomatte iru.He is staying still without doing anything.
Example conversation
A boy and a girl are looking at a broken toy clock.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵、この時計、止まっているよ。Himari, kono tokei, tomatte iru yo.Himari, this clock is still.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ。動いていないね。Hontou da. Ugote inai ne.You're right. It's not moving.
- 陽太 Yota電池が切れているのかな？Denchi ga kirete iru no kana?I wonder if the battery is dead?
- 陽葵 Himari陽太くん、確認してみて。Youta-kun, kakunin shite mite.Youta, please check it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “still” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
