1.
to hold back, to stop, to detain
To prevent someone from leaving or going somewhere.
友人が帰ろうとしたので引き止めた。
My friend was about to leave, so I held them back.
暴走する車を引き止めることはできなかった。
It was impossible to stop the runaway car.
2.
to dissuade, to talk out of
To persuade someone not to do something, especially resigning or quitting.
彼の辞職を何とか引き止めたい。
I want to somehow talk him out of resigning.
社長は優秀な社員を引き止めるために給料を上げた。
The president raised salaries to retain talented employees.
TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞 (transitive). Compound verb: 引く + 止める. Pattern: Xを引き止める (hold back X / stop X).
ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing effort. 引き止めている = 'is trying to hold back' or 'is detaining.'
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 人を引き止める (hold someone back)
- 辞職を引き止める (talk someone out of resigning)
- 何とか引き止める (somehow try to stop/retain)
NOTE: Often used in workplace contexts when trying to prevent someone from quitting. Can also be written as 引き留める with the same meaning.