Japanese

める

とどめる
Meaning: to stop; to limit; to retain
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 留める 留めない
Polite 留めます 留めません
Past 留めた 留めなかった
Polite + Past 留めました 留めませんでした
Te-form 留めて 留めなくて
Potential 留められる 留められない
Passive 留められる 留められない
Causative 留めさせる 留めさせない
Imperative 留めろ 留めるな

Handwriting

留
め
る

Example sentences

It is important to limit the damage to a minimum.
その建物は空襲で原形を留めないほど破壊された。
The building was destroyed to the point where it didn't retain its original form due to the air raid.
長年の放置により、かつての豪華な屋敷も今や形骸を留めるのみだ。
Due to years of neglect, the once luxurious mansion now only remains as a skeleton.
偉人の功績は、必ずや青史汗簡に永く留められるだろう。
The achievements of the great man will surely remain in the historical records forever.

Usage Notes

Used to express keeping something within a certain range or state (e.g., stopping damage, retaining memory).

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