结束

• Pinyin: jié shù
• Hanzi breakdown: 结 = 纟(silk) + 吉 (auspicious, phonetic), meaning to tie or conclude; 束 = pictograph of a bundle of sticks tied together

Meaning

To end; to finish; to conclude. To bring something to a close or come to an end.

One of the most common words for ending in Chinese. Used for events, activities, meetings, relationships, and any process that comes to a close. Can be transitive (to end something) or intransitive (something ends). More formal than 完 but used in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 会议三点钟就结束了。 The meeting ended at three o'clock.
2. 电影结束以后我们去吃饭吧。 Let's go eat after the film finishes.
3. 暑假快要结束了，我有点舍不得。 The summer holiday is about to end, and I'm a bit reluctant to let it go.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, workplace, academic, events

Tone: matter-of-fact

Do Say

• 这个学期什么时候结束？(When does this semester end?)
• 工作结束了，我们下班吧。(Work is over — let's call it a day.)

Don't Say

• 我结束了我的饭。(Don't use 结束 for finishing food — use 吃完. 结束 is for events, activities, or processes, not for consuming things.)

Origin & History

Compound of 结 (to tie up, to conclude) and 束 (to bind, a bundle), together meaning 'to tie up and bind' — metaphorically, to bring things to a close.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal