止(や)む

やむ
verb (godan)
to cease, to stop
1. to stop, to cease
For something ongoing to come to an end, especially natural phenomena like rain or wind.
雨(あめ)が止(や)んだ。
The rain stopped.
風(かぜ)が止(や)むのを待(ま)つ。
Wait for the wind to stop.
痛(いた)みが止(や)まない。
The pain won't stop.
雨(あめ)が止(や)んだら外(そと)に行(い)こう。
Let's go outside when the rain stops.
Conditional ~たら form
止(や)むを得(え)ない事情(じじょう)で会議(かいぎ)は中止(ちゅうし)となりました。
The meeting was canceled due to unavoidable circumstances.
Fixed expression 止むを得ない meaning 'unavoidable'

TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). Pattern: Xが止(や)む (X stops).

ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing cessation is not applicable; the focus is on the moment of stopping.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 雨(あめ)が止(や)む (rain stops)
  • 風(かぜ)が止(や)む (wind stops)
  • 止(や)まない (doesn't stop)
  • 止(や)みそう (looks like it will stop)
  • 止(や)むを得(え)ない (unavoidable, can't be helped)

PRIMARY USAGE: Mainly used for natural phenomena (rain, wind, snow) and abstract things (pain, crying).

SET EXPRESSION: 止(や)むを得(え)ない (unavoidable, having no choice) is a very common fixed phrase.

CONTRAST WITH 止(と)まる:

  • 止(や)む: natural cessation (rain stops, wind dies down)
  • 止(と)まる: stopping of movement (car stops, clock stops)
core
Added 2026.1.8 21:54 · Revised 2026.3.5 23:21
01000/01153_yamu