停止

• Pinyin: tíng zhǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 停 = 亻 (person) + 亭 (pavilion, phonetic); 止 = pictograph of a foot stopping

Meaning

To stop; to cease; to halt. Indicates that an action or process comes to an end.

A formal and definitive word for stopping. Stronger than 停 alone, which can mean a temporary pause. 停止 implies a complete cessation. Commonly used with activities, operations, services, and natural phenomena like rain or wind.

Examples

1. 雨终于停止了。 The rain finally stopped.
2. 请停止说话，考试开始了。 Please stop talking; the exam has started.
3. 工厂已经停止生产这种产品了。 The factory has already stopped producing this product.

Usage Guide

Context: instructions, news, everyday

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 请停止你的行为。(Please stop what you are doing.)
• 比赛因为下雨停止了。(The match was stopped because of rain.)

Don't Say

• 车停止一下，我要下车。(Don't use 停止 for a brief pause — use 停一下 instead. 停止 implies permanent or complete cessation.)

Origin & History

停 (to stop/stay) + 止 (to halt/cease). Both characters independently mean to stop, and together they reinforce the meaning of complete cessation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal