終わる
owaru[o̞β̞a̠ɾɯ̟]
To finish in Japanese is 終わる (owaru).
The verb 終わる is used to express that something comes to an end or is completed. It can also be used as an auxiliary verb by attaching it to the stem of another verb to mean completing the action of that verb, such as 食べ終わる (to finish eating).
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between 終わる and 終える. 終わる is an intransitive verb used when something finishes on its own or reaches completion. In contrast, 終える is a transitive verb used when an agent is actively completing a specific task or object.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an intransitive verb, 終わる describes a process or event reaching its conclusion. The past tense form 終わった is used to indicate that a process or event has already ended. To express a conjecture or an estimation that something will finish, you can use the form 終わるだろう.
How do you pronounce it?
owaru
Did you know?
- While 終わる means 'to finish', the word for 'end' or 'finish' in a sports match or race is often ゴール (gōru), borrowed from the English word 'goal'.
- The word おしまい (oshimai) is often used to signal the end of a story or a child's game, providing a sense of finality similar to a 'curtain call'.
- The kanji character used in 終わる, 終, is also used in the word for 'graduation' (卒業), linking the idea of finishing a course of study with the general concept of ending.
Examples in context
- 修理が終わるまで３時間かかるでしょう。It'll take three hours to finish these repairs.This sentence shows how to use 終わる to talk about the duration until repairs are completed.Tatoeba #4912105 by wat, translation #4013554 by CK
- 本を読み終わるTo finish reading a bookThis illustrates how 終わる can be used to express finishing an action like reading.
- 一日か二日で終わると思います。I'll be able to finish in a day or two.This shows how to express an estimation of how long it will take for something to 終わる.Tatoeba #3320986 by Tadafumi, translation #42578 by CK
- 食事が終わりました。The meal is finished.
- 会議が終わりました。The meeting has finished.
- プロジェクトが終了しました。The project has finished.
- イベントが終了しました。The event has come to an end.
- 漫画を読み終わった。I finished reading the manga.
- 映画がもう終わったよ。The movie has already finished.
Example conversation
Himi and Yota are discussing their homework.
- 陽葵 Himari宿題、もう終わった？Shukudai, mou owatta?Did you finish your homework already?
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、まだ終わらないよ。Iie, mada owaranai yo.No, I'm not finished yet.
- 陽葵 Himariいつ終わる予定なの？Itsu owaru yotei nano?When do you expect it to finish?
- 陽太 Yotaあと一時間で終わると思う。Ato ichijikan de owaru to omou.I think it will finish in one more hour.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 終わる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
