Clarifying "止まる" (Tomaru) Vs. "止める" (Tomeru): Key Difference

(Bus stopping [Tomaru] vs. Joy stopping a taxi [Tomeru])

“The car stops.” (Kuruma ga tomaru)
“I stop the car.” (Kuruma o tomeru)
In Japanese, we distinguish between things happening naturally (Intransitive) and things you do intentionally (Transitive). 止まる (Tomaru) is for the former, and 止める (Tomeru) is for the latter. Let’s master this essential pair with Joy and Ken!

🗣 Conversation Scene

Joy and Ken are in a taxi.

Joy

運転手（うんてんしゅ）さん、あそこのコンビニで止（と）まってください！
(Driver, please “stop [by yourself]” at that convenience store!)

Ken

Joyさん、タクシーを止めたい時は「止（と）めてください」ですよ。
「止まって」だと、タクシーが勝手に止まるのを待っているみたいです(笑)。
(Joy, when you want to stop the taxi, say “Tomete kudasai”. If you say “Tomatte”, it sounds like you are waiting for the taxi to stop on its own haha.)

💡 Explanation

Self-Movement vs. Action on Object

1. 止まる (Tomaru) = To stop (by itself)

Type: Intransitive (Subject moves/stops itself)
Used when something stops naturally, mechanically, or without your direct control. Use particle GA.

電車が止まる。
(The train stops [at the station].)
時計（とけい）が止まる。
(The clock stops [broken/no battery].)
雨（あめ）が止む（とまる）。
(The rain stops.)

2. 止める (Tomeru) = To stop (something)

Type: Transitive (I stop it)
Used when YOU perform the action of stopping something. Also means “to park”. Use particle O.

タクシーを止める。
(Stop/Hail a taxi.)
車を止める。
(Park the car / Stop the car.)
足を止める。
(Stop walking / Pause.)

📊 Comparison Table

Word	Meaning	Grammar
止まる (Tomaru)	Stops (Natural/Machine)	[Subject] ga Tomaru
止める (Tomeru)	Stop it (Action/Park)	[Object] o Tomeru

🚧 Joy’s Mistake

(Joy tells the taxi driver to stop)

❌ Wrong: ここで 止まって ください。
(Nuance: “Please cease movement here.” While understandable, it sounds like you are commanding the car itself, not asking the driver to perform an action.)

✅ Right: ここで 止めて ください。
(Nuance: “Please bring the car to a halt here.” This is the standard request for drivers.)