Stop (intransitive)

There are multiple intransitive “stop” in Japanese, with different usages and connotations.

止む (やむ) is something that you cannot control, and usually undesirable things, to stop.

  • 雨が止んだ -> The rain stopped
  • 風が止んだ -> The wind stopped

Weather, noise, are usually 止む.

Unlike others, 止む is often used in combination with 連用形 of another verb

  • 赤ちゃんが泣き止んだ -> The baby stopped crying
  • カラスが鳴き止まない -> Crows won’t stop cawing

止まる (とまる) is physically moving things to stop.

  • 揺れが止まった -> The ground shaking has stopped
  • 急に水が止まった -> Suddenly water stopped flowing
  • 彼は一度話し出すと止まらない -> Once he starts talking, he won’t stop

When it comes to talking, 話し終わる (=finish talking) is usually used.

  • 彼はなかなか話し終わらない -> He won’t finish, stop, talking

収まる and 治まる (おさまる) are something undesirable to abate and eventually stop. Usually 治まる is used for illness, and 収まる is used for other things.

  • やっと痛みが治まった -> The pain has finally stopped
  • 風がやっと収まった -> The wind has finally stopped

As mentioned above, おさまる implies gradual abating and eventual stopping.

  • The wind suddenly stopped
    • 風が突然止んだ: This is preferred
    • 風が突然収まった: Not entirely wrong but unnatural