You know that great feeling when you finally finish doing something?
Like when you finish your homework, or when you finally finish watching a long anime series.

In Japanese, we use the verb 終わる (owaru).

This verb actually has two main uses.

1. To show that an event ends, like “the movie ends.”
2. To show that an action is completed, like “to finish reading.”

In this article, we’ll focus on the second one, using 終わる as an auxiliary verb to express the completion of an action.

For example, you can say things like “to finish reading”,”to finish eating”, and “to finish talking” etc.

Once you master this usage, you’ll be able to describe the completion of actions very naturally in Japanese!

Shall we check it out?

終える (oeru) : To finish (something)

A transitive verb that means to bring something to an end.
It’s often interchangeable with 終わる, but focuses more on the doer finishing something.

宿題を 終えた。
shukudai wo oeta.
I finished my homework.

宿題を やり終わった。
shukudai wo yari owatta.
I finished doing my homework.

💡 Tip:
[Verb stem form] + 終わる → natural, everyday way to say “finish doing”
終える → more formal/literary, often used in writing or formal speech

図書館で 借りた本を 読み終わりました。
としょかん で かりた ほん を よみおわりました。
toshokan de karita hon wo yomiowarimashita.
I finished reading the book I borrowed from the library.

相手が 話し終わるまで さえぎらないのは 大事な マナーだ。
あいて が はなしおわる まで さえぎらない の は だいじ な まなー だ。
aite ga hanashiowaru made saegiranai no ha daiji na manaa da.
Not interrupting until the other person finishes speaking is an important manner.

部屋を 掃除し終わったので、次は買い物に行ってきます。
へや を そうじしおわった ので、つぎ は かいもの に いって きます。
heya wo soujishiowatta node, tsugi ha kaimono ni itte kimasu.
I finished cleaning my room, so next I’ll go shopping.

ご飯を 食べ終わったら、お皿を洗ってください。
ごはん を たべおわったら、おさら を あらって ください。
gohan wo tabeowattara, osara wo aratte kudasai.
After you finish eating, please wash the dishes.

このアニメを 見終わったら、次は何を見ようかな。
この あにめ を みおわったら、つぎ は なに を みよう かな。
kono anime wo miowattara, tsugi ha nani wo miyou kana.
After I finish this anime, I wonder what I should watch next.

• Grammar Point: 終わる (owaru)
• JLPT Level: N4
• Meaning: To finish doing, to complete
• Quick Explanation: When attached to the verb stem, 終わる expresses the completion of an action.

So that’s how we use 終わる in Japanese!
It’s perfect for describing the things you finish in daily life, from homework and chores to anime series and long conversations.

ブログを 書き終わったら、コーヒーをいれて 休憩します。
ぶろぐ を かきおわったら、こーひー を いれて きゅうけい します。
burogu wo kakiowattara, koohii wo irete kyuukei shimasu.
Once I finish writing this blog post, I’ll make some coffee and take a break.

Now it’s your turn! What’s something you can say you’ve “finished” in Japanese? Try making your own sentence with 終わる!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫

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