止む

• Reading: やむ
• Romaji: yamu
• Kanji breakdown: 止 (shi/to) — stop, halt
• Pronunciation: /ja.mɯ/

Meaning

To cease; to stop. Describes natural phenomena or situations coming to an end on their own.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the む row. Primarily used for weather events like rain or wind stopping, and also for abstract things like pain or crying ceasing. Unlike 止める (transitive), 止む is intransitive — the subject stops by itself.

Examples

1. 雨が止むまで待ちましょう。 Let's wait until the rain stops.
2. 風が止んだら外に出ます。 Once the wind dies down, I'll go outside.
3. やっと痛みが止んでよかったです。 I'm glad the pain finally went away.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, natural phenomena, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From classical Japanese やむ, sharing the kanji 止 (stop, halt). The character depicts a foot pausing mid-step, conveying the sense of coming to a standstill.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal