不停

• Pinyin: bù tíng
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 (not) + 停 (stop)

Meaning

Continuously; non-stop; without stopping.

Used as an adverb or complement to describe actions that continue without pause. Often used with 地 as in 不停地. Common in both spoken and written Chinese to emphasize persistence or duration.

Examples

1. 外面的雨不停地下，看样子一时半会儿停不了。 The rain outside kept falling non-stop — it doesn't look like it will stop anytime soon.
2. 小孩子问个不停，把大人都问烦了。 The child asked questions non-stop until the adults got annoyed.
3. 机器不停地运转，一刻也没有休息。 The machines kept running non-stop without a moment's rest.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, description, narrative

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 她笑个不停。(She laughed non-stop.)
• 他不停地说话。(He talked continuously.)

Don't Say

• 单独用'不停'作谓语——需要配合动词使用 (Don't use 不停 alone as a predicate — it needs to be used with a verb)

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (not) + 停 (stop), literally meaning 'not stopping.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal