====== tíngchǎn: 停产 - To Stop Production, To Halt Production, Out of Production ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
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.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**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 Sentences =====
  * **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."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
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.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[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.