Japanese symbol for “stop”
止まる
とまる
Romaji: tomaru
to stop (moving); to come to a stop
In Japanese, stop is 止まる, read とまる (tomaru).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5r, vi to stop (moving); to come to a stop
- v5r, vi to stop (doing, working, being supplied); to come to a halt; to cease; to be stopped; to be suspended
- v5r, vi to alight; to perch on
Written forms: 止まる、留まる、停まる、駐まる. Readings: とまる.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “stop”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 途絶える | とだえる todaeru | to stop; to cease; to come to an end |
| 留め | とめ tome | (a) stop (e.g. in a timber joint, or at the end of a kanji stroke) |
| ストップ | ストップ sutoppu | stop |
| 停車 | ていしゃ teisha | stopping (of a train, car, etc.); stop |
| 止める | とめる tomeru | to stop; to turn off |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 禁止 | きんし kinshi | prohibition; inhibition; ban |
| 停止 | ていし teishi | stoppage; coming to a stop; halt |
| 中止 | ちゅうし chuushi | interruption; discontinuance; suspension |
| 防止 | ぼうし boushi | prevention; check |
| 廃止 | はいし haishi | abolition; discontinuance; discontinuation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “stop”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.