tíngchǎn: 停产 - To Stop Production, To Halt Production, Out of Production

• Keywords: tingchan, 停产, stop production in Chinese, halt production, out of production, discontinue product, factory closure, supply chain disruption, Chinese manufacturing, business Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese business term 停产 (tíngchǎn), which means “to stop or halt production.” This page explores its meaning, from a factory temporarily shutting down a production line to a popular product being permanently discontinued. Understand its huge significance in the context of China's economy, supply chains, and environmental policies.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tíngchǎn
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To cease the manufacturing or production of goods.
• In a Nutshell: 停产 (tíngchǎn) is a straightforward and crucial term in business and economics. It combines “stop” (停) and “produce” (产) to mean exactly what it sounds like: production has stopped. This can be temporary (for maintenance or due to a parts shortage) or permanent (a product is discontinued). It's a word you'll frequently see in news about factories, supply chains, and the economy.

• 停 (tíng): This character means “to stop” or “to cease.” It's a combination of the person radical (亻, a variant of 人) and 亭 (tíng), a pavilion. You can imagine a person stopping to rest at a pavilion.
• 产 (chǎn): This character means “to produce,” “to give birth to,” or “product.” It depicts something coming into being or being generated.
• Together, 停产 (tíngchǎn) literally means “stop producing.” The combination is direct and logical, making it easy to remember.

As the “world's factory,” China's manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of both its domestic economy and global supply chains. Consequently, the word 停产 (tíngchǎn) carries significant weight and appears frequently in news and official discourse. A large-scale 停产 event is rarely just a simple business decision. It can signal major economic shifts, supply chain crises (as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic), or significant government intervention. For example, ahead of major events like the Beijing Olympics or APEC summits, the government has ordered factories in surrounding areas to 停产 to ensure clear blue skies by reducing pollution. This highlights a key cultural and political aspect: the state's power to intervene in the economy for national priorities, be it environmental protection (环保) or social stability. In the West, we might talk about a product being “discontinued” or a company “halting operations.” While similar, 停产 is often used on a much larger scale in Chinese media, referring to entire factories or industries. A notice of 停产 can cause ripples, affecting thousands of workers' jobs (失业 - shīyè) and impacting international stock markets. It's a term that directly connects a business action to its broader social and economic consequences.

停产 (tíngchǎn) is a formal and neutral term used across various contexts, but the implications are often negative.

• In Business and Economic News: This is its most common habitat. News reports use it to describe factory shutdowns due to poor sales, raw material shortages, or trade disputes.
• Official Government Notices: Government bodies issue 停产 orders to companies that violate environmental regulations or safety standards. The phrase used is often `停产整顿 (tíngchǎn zhěngdùn)` - “stop production for rectification.”
• Consumer and Product Information: When a company decides to no longer make a specific model of a car, phone, or appliance, they announce that it has 停产 (tíngchǎn). For consumers, this means the product is now “out of production” or “discontinued.”
• As a Noun: While primarily a verb, it can be used as a noun. For example, `这次的停产造成了巨大的损失` (This production halt caused huge losses).

• Example 1:
  • 由于订单减少，那家服装厂下个月将停产。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú dìngdān jiǎnshǎo, nà jiā fúzhuāng chǎng xià gè yuè jiāng tíngchǎn.
  • English: Due to a decrease in orders, that clothing factory will stop production next month.
  • Analysis: A classic business context. 停产 here is a direct consequence of poor economic conditions.
• Example 2:
  • 苹果公司宣布，iPhone Mini 系列已经全面停产。
  • Pinyin: Píngguǒ gōngsī xuānbù, iPhone Mini xìliè yǐjīng quánmiàn tíngchǎn.
  • English: Apple announced that the iPhone Mini series is now completely out of production.
  • Analysis: Here, 停产 means “discontinued.” It's a permanent decision about a specific product line.
• Example 3:
  • 为了控制污染，政府命令周边所有化工厂暂时停产。
  • Pinyin: Wèile kòngzhì wūrǎn, zhèngfǔ mìnglìng zhōubiān suǒyǒu huàgōngchǎng zànshí tíngchǎn.
  • English: In order to control pollution, the government ordered all surrounding chemical plants to temporarily halt production.
  • Analysis: This shows government-mandated, temporary 停产 for environmental reasons. The adverb `暂时 (zànshí)` meaning “temporarily” is key here.
• Example 4:
  • 芯片短缺导致许多汽车制造商被迫停产或减产。
  • Pinyin: Xīnpiàn duǎnquē dǎozhì xǔduō qìchē zhìzào shāng bèi pò tíngchǎn huò jiǎnchǎn.
  • English: The chip shortage has forced many car manufacturers to halt or reduce production.
  • Analysis: This highlights a supply chain issue. The structure `被迫 (bèipò)` means “to be forced to,” indicating the halt was not by choice.
• Example 5:
  • 这款经典的诺基亚手机早在十年前就停产了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn jīngdiǎn de Nuòjīyà shǒujī zǎo zài shí nián qián jiù tíngchǎn le.
  • English: This classic Nokia phone went out of production as long as ten years ago.
  • Analysis: Used to talk about products from the past. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a completed action or change of state.
• Example 6:
  • 工厂因设备检修，需要停产三天。
  • Pinyin: Gōngchǎng yīn shèbèi jiǎnxiū, xūyào tíngchǎn sān tiān.
  • English: The factory needs to stop production for three days due to equipment maintenance.
  • Analysis: A neutral, planned, and temporary halt in production for operational reasons.
• Example 7:
  • 工人大罢工造成了全厂停产。
  • Pinyin: Gōngrén dà bàgōng zàochéngle quán chǎng tíngchǎn.
  • English: The workers' general strike caused the entire factory to halt production.
  • Analysis: Shows 停产 as a result of labor disputes.
• Example 8:
  • 如果我们找不到新的投资，公司下个月就得停产。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒmen zhǎo bù dào xīn de tóuzī, gōngsī xià gè yuè jiù děi tíngchǎn.
  • English: If we can't find new investment, the company will have to stop production next month.
  • Analysis: A conditional sentence showing 停产 as a looming threat due to financial problems.
• Example 9:
  • 停产的决定让数百名员工面临失业的风险。
  • Pinyin: Tíngchǎn de juédìng ràng shù bǎi míng yuángōng miànlín shīyè de fēngxiǎn.
  • English: The decision to stop production made hundreds of employees face the risk of unemployment.
  • Analysis: Here, 停产 acts as a noun modifier for `决定 (juédìng)` (decision), demonstrating its versatility.
• Example 10:
  • 这家药厂因违反安全规定被勒令停产整顿。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā yàochǎng yīn wéifǎn ānquán guīdìng bèi lèlìng tíngchǎn zhěngdùn.
  • English: This pharmaceutical factory was ordered to stop production for rectification because it violated safety regulations.
  • Analysis: The set phrase `停产整顿 (tíngchǎn zhěngdùn)` is very common in official contexts. `勒令 (lèlìng)` means “to order” or “to compel.”

A common mistake for learners is confusing 停产 (tíngchǎn) with other “stopping” words. The key is that 停产 applies *exclusively to the production of physical goods*.

• 停产 (tíngchǎn) vs. 停业 (tíngyè):
  • 停产 (tíngchǎn): To stop producing goods. (e.g., a car factory, a toy factory).
  • 停业 (tíngyè): To stop business operations. This is used for service-based businesses like restaurants, shops, banks, or law firms.
  • Incorrect: `这家餐厅停产了。` (This restaurant stopped producing.)
  • Correct: `这家餐厅停业了。` (This restaurant ceased operations.)
• 停产 (tíngchǎn) vs. 倒闭 (dǎobì):
  • 停产 (tíngchǎn): Production stops. This could be temporary. The company itself might still exist, trying to solve its problems.
  • 倒闭 (dǎobì): To go bankrupt; to close down permanently due to business failure. This is the end of the company.
  • A company might 停产 for a few months and then resume, but a company that has 倒闭 is gone for good.

• 复产 (fùchǎn) - To resume production. The direct antonym of 停产.
• 停业 (tíngyè) - To cease business operations (for services, not manufacturing).
• 倒闭 (dǎobì) - To go bankrupt, to close down permanently. A more severe outcome than just 停产.
• 减产 (jiǎnchǎn) - To reduce production. A less drastic step than a complete halt.
• 生产线 (shēngchǎnxiàn) - Production line. A factory might stop one 生产线 but not the entire factory.
• 供应链 (gōngyìngliàn) - Supply chain. Problems in the 供应链 often lead to 停产.
• 失业 (shīyè) - Unemployment. A common social consequence of a large factory undergoing 停产.
• 下架 (xiàjià) - To be taken off the shelves. This refers to the sales channel, while 停产 refers to the manufacturing source. A product is 下架 after it has been 停产.
• 关闭 (guānbì) - To close, to shut down. A general term. You can 关闭 a factory, which implies it will 停产. You can also 关闭 a door or a website.