Yameru is the Japanese verb for ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’

What does “yameru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “yameru” to mean ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “yameru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “yameru”
  • Example #1: how to say “stop” in Japanese
• Yamenai: the nai form of “yameru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t leave ” in Japanese
• Yameyou: the volitional form of “yameru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s stop” in Japanese
• Yamemasu: the masu form of “yameru”
  • Example #4: how to say “stop” politely in Japanese
• Yameta: the ta form of “yameru”
  • Example #5: how to say “left a job” in Japanese
• Yamete: the te form of “yameru”
  • Example #6: how to say “please stop” in Japanese
• Yamereba: the ba form of “yameru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if stop” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “yameru”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “yameru”.

• yameru – 止める/辞める (やめる) : a verb meaning ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ in Japanese.

“Yameru” has two different kanji expressions. The first one means ‘to stop’ or ‘to end’; the second one means ‘to leave a job’. We need to pick a proper expression depending on what we want to say.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “stop” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku tachi” to make the subject in the sentence.
• kotoshi – 今年 (ことし) : a noun meaning ‘this year’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb to say “this year” in Japanese.
• mudazukai – 無駄遣い (むだづかい) : a noun referring to the act of wasting money or such.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “mudazukai” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “yameru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to stop’ in Japanese, this verb is a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “yameru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “yamenai”.

Yamenai: the nai form of “yameru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “yamenai”.

• yamenai – 止めない/辞めない (やめない) : the nai form of “yameru”, which means ‘not to stop’, ‘not to end’, or ‘not to leave a job’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yamenai” consists of the following two parts:

• yame – 止め/辞め (やめ) : one conjugation of “yameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yamenai” is literally the nai form of “yameru” and means ‘not to stop’, ‘not to end’, or ‘not to leave a job’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t leave ” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• shigoto – 仕事 (しごと) : a noun meaning ‘job’, ‘work’, or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “yamenai”. In the example, it works as a part of the commonly-used expression, “shigoto wo yamenai”, which means ‘not to leave a job’ in Japanese. When we want to mean ‘not to leave a job’ in Japanese, anyway, this nai form is a good option.

Yameyou: the volitional form of “yameru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “yameyou”.

• yameyou – 止めよう/辞めよう (やめよう) : the volitional form of “yameru”, which expresses volition to stop, end, or leave a job.

Grammatically, “yameyou” consists of the following two parts:

• yame – 止め/辞め (やめ) : one conjugation of “yameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
• you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yameyou” is literally the volitional form of “yameru” and expresses volition to stop, end, or leave a job. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s stop” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese.
• koko – ここ : a demonstrative pronoun referring to a place close to the speaker. In the example, this works together with “de” to mean ‘here’ in Japanese.
• de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “koko” to say where the speakers stop.

This is a typical usage of “yameyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s stop” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Yamemasu: the masu form of “yameru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “yamemasu”.

• yamemasu – 止めます/辞めます (やめます) : the masu form of “yameru”, which means ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yamemasu” consists of the following two parts:

• yame – 止め/辞め (やめ) : one conjugation of “yameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yamemasu” is literally the masu form of “yameru” and means ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “stop” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tabako – 煙草 (たばこ) : a noun meaning ‘cigarette’ in Japanese. This can also refer to the act of smoking.
• to – と : a case particle working as a quote marker. In the example, this works after the clause to indicate what he said.
• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• it – 言っ (いっ) : one conjugation of the verb, “iu”, which means ‘to say’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. In the example, this is used after “it” to make its past tense form, “it ta”.

This is a typical usage of “yamemasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “stop” politely in Japanese, this masu form is a good option.

Yameta: the ta form of “yameru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “yameta”.

• yameta – 止めた/辞めた (やめた) : the ta form of “yameru”, which means ‘stopped’, ‘ended’, or ‘left a job’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yameta” consists of the following two parts:

• yame – 止め/辞め (やめ) : one conjugation of “yameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yameta” is literally the ta form of “yameru” and means ‘stopped’, ‘ended’, or ‘left a job’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this ta form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “left a job” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kekkyoku – 結局 (けっきょく) : an adverb meaning ‘after all’ or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “yameta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “yameru”, this ta form is the best option.

Yamete: the te form of “yameru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “yamete”.

• yamete – 止めて/辞めて (やめて) : the te form of “yameru”, which means ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yamete” consists of the following two parts:

• yame – 止め/辞め (やめ) : one conjugation of “yameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yamete” is literally the te form of “yameru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “yamete” is very useful when we want to use “yameru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please stop” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• sore – それ : a demonstrative pronoun referring to a thing not very close to the speaker. In the example, this works to mean “that” in Japanese.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “yamete” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “yamete”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “yameru” in front of another verb like this, its te form is useful to make a smooth connection.

Yamereba: the ba form of “yameru”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “yamereba”.

• yamereba – 止めれば/辞めれば (やめれば) : the ba form of “yameru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yamereba” consists of the following two parts:

• yamere – 止めれ/辞めれ (やめれ) : one conjugation of “yameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yamereba” is literally the ba form of “yameru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “yamereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if stop” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ima – 今 (いま) : an adverb meaning ‘now’ in Japanese.
• benkyou – 勉強 (べんきょう) : a noun referring to the act of studying in Japanese.
• koukai suru – 後悔する (こうかいする) : a verb meaning ‘to regret’ in Japanese.
• yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea in a soft way. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the example sentence to state the speaker’s idea softly.

This is a typical usage of “yamereba”. In the example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ima benkyou wo yamereba”, which means ‘if you stop studying now’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to stop’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “yameru” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• yameru – 止める/辞める (やめる) : a verb meaning ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ in Japanese.
• yamenai – 止めない/辞めない (やめない) : the nai form of “yameru”, which means ‘not to stop’, ‘not to end’, or ‘not to leave a job’ in Japanese.
• yameyou – 止めよう/辞めよう (やめよう) : the volitional form of “yameru”, which expresses volition to stop, end, or leave a job.
• yamemasu – 止めます/辞めます (やめます) : the masu form of “yameru”, which means ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ politely in Japanese.
• yameta – 止めた/辞めた (やめた) : the ta form of “yameru”, which means ‘stopped’, ‘ended’, or ‘left a job’ in Japanese.
• yamete – 止めて/辞めて (やめて) : the te form of “yameru”, which means ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ in Japanese. When we want to use “yameru” in front of another verb, this te form is useful to make a smooth connection.
• yamereba – 止めれば/辞めれば (やめれば) : the ba form of “yameru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to stop’, ‘to end’, or ‘to leave a job’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.