引(ひ)き止(と)める

ひきとめる
verb (ichidan)
to hold back, to detain
他動詞 transitiveaction
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present引(ひ)き止(と)める引(ひ)き止(と)めない
Present polite引(ひ)き止(と)めます引(ひ)き止(と)めません
Past引(ひ)き止(と)めた引(ひ)き止(と)めなかった
Past polite引(ひ)き止(と)めました引(ひ)き止(と)めませんでした
て form引(ひ)き止(と)めて引(ひ)き止(と)めなくて
ている present引(ひ)き止(と)めている引(ひ)き止(と)めていない
ている polite引(ひ)き止(と)めています引(ひ)き止(と)めていません
ている past引(ひ)き止(と)めていた引(ひ)き止(と)めていなかった
ている past polite引(ひ)き止(と)めていました引(ひ)き止(と)めていませんでした
Conditional ば引(ひ)き止(と)めれば引(ひ)き止(と)めなければ
Conditional たら引(ひ)き止(と)めたら引(ひ)き止(と)めなかったら
Volitional引(ひ)き止(と)めよう—
Volitional polite引(ひ)き止(と)めましょう—
Potential引(ひ)き止(と)められる引(ひ)き止(と)められない
Passive引(ひ)き止(と)められる引(ひ)き止(と)められない
Causative引(ひ)き止(と)めさせる引(ひ)き止(と)めさせない
Imperative引(ひ)き止(と)めろ引(ひ)き止(と)めるな
1. to hold back, to stop, to detain
To prevent someone from leaving or going somewhere.
My friend was about to leave, so I held them back.
It was impossible to stop the runaway car.
I thought it was dangerous, so I grabbed their arm and held them back.
2. to dissuade, to talk out of
To persuade someone not to do something, especially resigning or quitting.
I want to somehow talk him out of resigning.
The president raised salaries to retain talented employees.
Those around him tried to talk him out of it, but he didn't change his mind about studying abroad.

Transitivity: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive). Compound verb: 引(ひ)く + 止(と)める. Pattern: Xを引(ひ)き止(と)める (hold back X / stop X).

Aspect: ている indicates ongoing effort. 引(ひ)き止(と)めている = 'is trying to hold back' or 'is detaining.'

Common patterns

Note: Often used in workplace contexts when trying to prevent someone from quitting. Can also be written as 引(ひ)き留(と)める with the same meaning.