止まる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 止まる, read とまる, denotes an intransitive verb for something in motion or operation coming to a stop.
• Basic usage: It describes a car coming to rest before a crossing and a clock ceasing to run when its battery dies.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An intransitive verb for stopping
  • It describes the subject coming to a stop, distinct from a transitive verb meaning to stop something.