辞める

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 会社を辞めました。▶ —
   I quit the company.
2. タバコを辞めたい。▶ —
   I want to quit smoking.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Yameru is the Japanese verb for "quit / stop / cease," with kanji that split the meaning: (1) 辞める = resign a position / job; (2) 止める is the transitive "halt / stop" (same sound, different word); (3) hiragana やめる covers stopping activities or habits generally. Examples: "kaisha wo yameru" (leave a company), "tabako wo yameru" (quit smoking), "undou wo yameru" (stop exercising). In Japan's lifetime-employment, seniority-based culture, "kaisha wo yameru" is a major life decision — followed by vocabulary like taishoku (resignation / retirement), tenshoku (changing jobs), dokuritsu (going independent). After the late-1990s shuushoku-hyougaki ("employment ice age," 1993–2005), lifetime employment weakened and tenshoku became normalized. English quit / stop / resign and Chinese 辞 / 停 map. "Yamete kudasai" (please stop) is the standard daily-life response to harassment or violence.

Quick check

1. Difference between "kaisha wo yameru" (辞める) and "kaisha wo tomeru" (止める)?

   • Yameru (辞める) = resign as employee; tomeru (止める) = halt the company (rare / awkward)
   • Synonyms
   • Honorific vs humble
   • Past vs present