终止

• Pinyin: zhōng zhǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 终 = end/final; 止 = foot stopping, meaning to stop

Meaning

To terminate; to end; to stop. To bring something to a complete end.

More formal and final than 停止. Common phrases: 终止合同 (terminate a contract), 终止合作 (end cooperation), 终止服务 (terminate service). Often used in legal and business contexts.

Examples

1. 双方决定终止合作关系。 Both parties decided to terminate the cooperative relationship.
2. 由于违约，公司有权终止合同。 Due to breach of contract, the company has the right to terminate the contract.
3. 这项服务将于月底终止。 This service will be terminated at the end of the month.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, business, contracts

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 合同已经终止了。(The contract has been terminated.)
• 我们不得不终止这个项目。(We have to terminate this project.)

Don't Say

• 终止继续 (Contradictory — 终止 means to stop completely)

Origin & History

Compound of 终 (end, final) and 止 (to stop). To stop finally/completely.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal