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Japanese Versatility List

Open, close, start, stop

Core words, Stage 4chunk 12 of 79Verbs: change, start and end

Lets you ask when places open and close, and start or stop things.

Mix-ups Aku and shimaru are what doors and shops do by themselves; you open or close them with akeru and shimeru.

aku

polite akimasu

open (doors, shops); come open

The door or shop opens by itself or is open; for 'I open it' use akeru.

Same sound as aku 空く, be free: kono seki aite imasu ka? (is this seat free?). Read hiraku, the same kanji means open a book or hold an event.

casual

ano mise, nanji ni aku?

What time does that shop open?

あの店、何時に開く？

polite

ano mise wa nanji ni akimasu ka?

What time does that shop open?

あの店は何時に開きますか？

Written 開く · あく · 開きますRank #624 in 3,030 TV dramas

shimaru

polite shimarimasu

close; shut (doors, shops)

The door or shop closes by itself or is closed; for 'I close it' use shimeru.

Train announcements say 'doa ga shimarimasu' (the doors are closing). Opposite: aku.

casual

yuubinkyoku, mou shimatteru yo.

The post office is already closed.

郵便局、もう閉まってるよ。

polite

yuubinkyoku wa mou shimatte imasu yo.

The post office is already closed.

郵便局はもう閉まっていますよ。

Written 閉まる · しまる · 閉まりますRank #3722 in 3,030 TV dramas

sutaato suru

polite sutaato shimasu

start; begin

Upbeat word for events, races, projects and new chapters; also the noun 'a start' (ii sutaato).

Hajimaru (it starts) and hajimeru (start it) are the everyday native verbs.

casual

juuji ni sutaato suru kara, okurenaide ne.

It starts at ten, so don't be late.

10時にスタートするから、遅れないでね。

polite

juuji ni sutaato shimasu node, okurenaide kudasai.

It starts at ten, so please don't be late.

10時にスタートしますので、遅れないでください。

Written スタートする · スタートしますRank #1898 in 3,030 TV dramas

sutoppu

stop; a halt

Called out on its own to make someone stop; sutoppu suru for trains, work or supplies grinding to a halt.

Tomaru (it stops) and tomeru (stop it) are the everyday native verbs.

casual

sutoppu, sutoppu! ima no mou ikkai.

Stop, stop! Do that bit again.

ストップ、ストップ！今のもう一回。

polite

sutoppu shite kudasai. ima no o mou ikkai onegai shimasu.

Please stop. Could you do that part again?

ストップしてください。今のをもう一回お願いします。

Written ストップRank #2401 in 3,030 TV dramas