GRAMMAR DETAIL
終わる
Follows the verb stem to indicate that an action involving a set amount or process has been completed in full.
Examples
祖母への長い手紙をやっと書き終えた。
I finally finished writing the long letter to my grandmother.
Words used
映画を見終わったら、感想を聞かせてください。
When you finish watching the movie, please tell me what you thought of it.
Words used
厚い小説を三日で読み終わりました。
I finished reading the thick novel in three days.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: A verb's
ますstem takes終わる. - Basic usage:
読み終わりましたmeans that the intended amount of reading has been finished.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Attachment and inflection
- Attach it as in
読みます → 読み終わる, then mark past tense and politeness at the end, as in読み終わりました.
- Attach it as in
- 終える and やめる
- The
終えるin書き終えたis a related expression for finishing the writing.書くのをやめたmeans stopping writing, leaving completion as a separate matter.
- The