中止

• Pinyin: zhōng zhǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 中 = middle; 止 = foot stopping (halt)

Meaning

To suspend; to discontinue; to abort. Stopping something in the middle before completion.

Stronger than 暂停 (pause), implying the activity may not resume. Used for contracts (中止合同), negotiations (中止谈判), and processes. Legal term in contracts and proceedings. Distinguished from 终止 (terminate permanently).

Examples

1. 由于对方严重违约，我方决定中止合同的执行。 Because the other party seriously breached the agreement, we have decided to suspend performance of the contract.
2. 实验出现异常数据后，研究团队被迫中止试验。 After abnormal data appeared in the experiment, the research team was forced to suspend the test.
3. 双方因分歧过大，宣布中止本轮贸易谈判。 Due to major differences, both sides announced they were suspending this round of trade talks.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, contracts, official proceedings

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 若发现安全隐患，施工必须立即中止。(If safety hazards are discovered, construction must be suspended immediately.)
• 因不可抗力导致合同中止的，双方互不承担责任。(If the contract is suspended due to force majeure, neither party bears responsibility.)

Don't Say

• 我中止吃饭了 — too formal; use 我不吃了 or 我停下来了; 中止 is for formal processes, not daily activities

Origin & History

中 (middle/in the midst) + 止 (stop)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal