Which one should you use?
The form 止まれ is a blunt command, whereas 止まってください is the standard polite way to ask someone to stop. For a more forceful or direct informal command, you might use 止めろ. To express the idea of "stop it" or "stop doing that" casually among friends, やめて is common and adding particles can create more emotive expressions like やめろよ！
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
止まれ is an imperative command form. For polite situations, use 止まってください to say "please stop". In informal settings, やめて is a straightforward way to say "stop" among friends or acquaintances of the same age group, while 止めろ is a more direct and forceful informal command.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While 止まる is the dictionary form meaning "to stop", the command form changes to 止まれ. To describe a completed state, such as "it has stopped", you would use 止まりました.
How do you pronounce it?
tomare
Did you know?
- The character 止 in 止まれ originally depicted a foot, representing the act of bringing a foot to a halt.
- The word 止まる is an intransitive verb, meaning it describes something stopping on its own, whereas 止める is the transitive version used when you stop something else.
- In Japan, you will see the command 止まれ written in white on red backgrounds at almost every pedestrian crossing and street corner.
Examples in context
- 彼は止まれと合図した。He signaled them to stop.This sentence shows how 止まれ is used in a signal.Tatoeba #106476 by bunbuku, translation #297210 by CK
- 警官は懐中電灯で車に止まれと合図をした。The policeman signaled the car to stop with a flashlight.This sentence shows the use of 止まれ in a signaling context with a flashlight.Tatoeba #176354 by bunbuku, translation #238110 by CM
- 止まれ！Stop!This sentence shows 止まれ as a sudden, direct command.Tatoeba #4443360 by chihiro, translation #448320 by CM
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A road safety lesson between two friends.
- 結衣 Yui「止まれ」の標識が見えますか？"Tomare" no hyoushiki ga miemasu ka?Do you see the "stop" sign?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、よく見えます。Hai, yoku miemasu.Yes, I can see it clearly.
- 結衣 Yui健太さんは、運転中もしっかり止まってくださいね。Kenta-san wa, unten chuu mo shikkari tomatte kudasai ne.Kenta, please make sure to stop properly while driving.
- 陽太 Yotaわかりました、気をつけます。Wakarimashita, ki o tsukemasu.Understood, I will be careful.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
