to finish ~ing

Beginner

15-20 min

very common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Expresses completion of an action.

[Verb ます-stem] + 終わる

やっと宿題を書き終わりました。

Yatto shukudai wo kakiowarimashita.

I finally finished writing my homework.

食べ終わったら、片付けてください。

Tabeowattara, katazukete kudasai.

Please clean up after you finish eating.

Focus on completion/ending of action.

～始める

to begin to ~, to start ~ing

～てもいいです

may do ~, it's okay to do ~

～てはいけません

must not do ~, not allowed to do ~

～なければなりません

must do ~, have to do ~

～なくてもいいです

don't have to do ~, don't need to do ~

Common with eating, writing, reading.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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