To Stop Something
To Stop Doing Something
transitive verb, ichidan verb
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means stop, so the verb vocab version of that is to stop something. Alternatively, it can also mean to stop doing something.
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. This word has two different readings for its slightly different meanings, so here's a couple mnemonics to help remember which is which:
When you need to stop something from moving, you use your toe (と). For most people, this would just lead to a stubbed toe, but you have toes of iron — sturdy enough to stop even speeding locomotives in their tracks.
On the other hand, when you need to stop doing something — you know, a bad habit or whatnot — you call over the Yankees (や). Imagine the whole New York Yankees squad cheering you on (or threatening you with their bats). You'd be able to quit immediately.
手を止める
to stop doing something
くるまを止める
to stop the car
火を止める
to turn off the stove
火を止めるボタンはこれです。
This is the button to stop the fire.
いそいで水を止めた。
I rushed to stop the water.
フグは「はっ？」といって、トマトを切る手を止めた。
Fugu said "Huh?," and stopped their hand cutting the tomato.