制止

• Pinyin: zhì zhǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 制 = control; 止 = pictograph of a foot stopping

Meaning

To stop; to prevent; to put an end to. Taking action to halt an undesirable behaviour or situation.

Implies active intervention to prevent continuation. Common objects include 暴力 (violence), 犯罪 (crime), 谣言 (rumours), 不当行为 (improper conduct). Stronger than 阻止 in implying authoritative stopping.

Examples

1. 警察及时赶到现场，制止了一场暴力冲突。 The police arrived in time and stopped a violent clash.
2. 老师立即制止了学生之间的争吵，恢复了课堂秩序。 The teacher immediately stopped the students’ argument and restored order in the classroom.
3. 社区居民联合起来制止违规建筑的施工。 Community residents joined together to stop construction on an illegal building.

Usage Guide

Context: law enforcement, conflict resolution, governance

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 市民有义务制止公共场所的不文明行为。(Citizens have a duty to stop uncivilised behaviour in public places.)
• 及时制止谣言传播对维护社会稳定至关重要。(Timely stopping the spread of rumours is crucial for maintaining social stability.)

Don't Say

• 我制止了看电视 — for stopping one's own action, use 停止; 制止 implies stopping someone or something else

Origin & History

制 (control/restrain) + 止 (stop)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal