辞める

What it means

辞める (yameru) means to voluntarily end or discontinue something, most commonly used for resigning from a job or stopping an ongoing activity; it expresses the decision to cease participation, abandon a role, or halt an action and is conjugated like a standard ru-verb in speech and polite forms.

Main meanings

• 1. to cease a habitual action or habit (e.g., stop smoking or stop a routine)
• 2. to discontinue participation in clubs, classes, projects, or memberships
• 3. to abandon an attempt, plan, or course of study
• 4. colloquial imperative use to tell someone to stop doing something (used like “stop it!” in casual speech)
• 5. to decline or turn down an offer in polite contexts (e.g., refusing a proposed job or invitation)

How to use it

Used both in casual conversation and formal contexts to indicate quitting or stopping; everyday speech uses plain 辞める (yameru) and polite 辞めます (yamemasu), while written business language often prefers formal compounds; it commonly takes a direct object with を when leaving an organization and appears in commands/requests when asking someone to stop.