Keywords: 停止, tingzhi, how to say stop in Chinese, stop in Chinese, cease in Chinese, halt, suspend, 停止 meaning, Chinese verb for stop, formal stop, stop a process, HSK 3 vocabulary.
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 停止 (tíngzhǐ), which means “to stop,” “to cease,” or “to halt.” This comprehensive guide explores its core meaning, character origins, and practical use in modern China, from official announcements and technical manuals to describing natural phenomena. Understand the crucial difference between the formal 停止 (tíngzhǐ) and informal commands like “别 (bié)…了” to avoid common mistakes and speak more naturally.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): tíngzhǐ
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: To stop an action, process, or movement completely.
In a Nutshell:停止 (tíngzhǐ) is a formal and definitive way to say “stop.” Think of it as the word you'd see on an official notice, in a news report, or used to describe a machine grinding to a halt. It implies a complete and often permanent cessation of an activity, carrying more weight than a simple pause. It's more about “ceasing” or “halting” than just “stopping” for a moment.
Character Breakdown
停 (tíng): This character means “to stop” or “to park.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) and a pavilion (亭). Picturing a person (人) stopping to rest at a pavilion (亭) helps remember its meaning of coming to a rest.
止 (zhǐ): This character also means “to stop” or “to halt.” It is a pictogram of a foot (originally 趾), symbolizing the act of stopping one's steps or forward movement. It is one of the most fundamental characters for the concept of stopping.
Together: Combining 停 (tíng) and 止 (zhǐ) creates a reinforced, formal term. It's like saying “stop-halt,” which removes any ambiguity and emphasizes the finality and completeness of the action. This compound word is stronger and more formal than using either character alone.
Cultural Context and Significance
The Voice of Authority and Objectivity: In Chinese culture, 停止 (tíngzhǐ) is the language of officialdom, rules, and objective processes. It's not a word you typically shout at a friend. Its usage in public notices, legal documents, and news reports reflects a cultural preference for clear, formal, and unambiguous directives in structured environments. It carries an air of seriousness and finality.
Comparison: “Stop” vs. “Cease”: A good way to understand 停止 (tíngzhǐ) is to compare the English words “stop” and “cease.” You might tell a child, “Stop making that noise!” which is an immediate, personal command. However, a legal document would order a company to “Cease all operations,” which is formal, impersonal, and official. 停止 operates much more like “cease.” You would never yell “停止!” at a friend who's tickling you (you'd say “别闹了! bié nào le!”). But a factory would receive a formal notice to “停止生产” (tíngzhǐ shēngchǎn) - “cease production.” This distinction highlights the importance of choosing the right level of formality in Chinese.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Formal Announcements and Official Orders: This is the primary context for 停止. It is frequently seen in news reports, government notices, and company-wide memos.
e.g., 由于大雪，所有航班已停止起降。(Yóuyú dàxuě, suǒyǒu hángbān yǐ tíngzhǐ qǐjiàng.) - Due to heavy snow, all flights have stopped taking off and landing.
Technical and Mechanical Contexts: Used to describe machines, systems, or software that have stopped functioning.
e.g., 按下红色按钮，机器会立即停止运转。(Àn xià hóngsè ànniǔ, jīqì huì lìjí tíngzhǐ yùnzhuǎn.) - Press the red button, and the machine will immediately stop running.
Abstract and Biological Processes: It is the correct word for describing the cessation of abstract or involuntary processes like time, thinking, or bodily functions.
e.g., 医生宣布他的心脏已经停止了跳动。(Yīshēng xuānbù tā de xīnzàng yǐjīng tíngzhǐ le tiàodòng.) - The doctor announced that his heart had stopped beating.
Connotation: The connotation of 停止 is generally neutral and objective. However, because of its formality and finality, it can feel stark, severe, or even alarming depending on the context (e.g., a heart stopping). It is rarely used in casual, lighthearted conversation.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
雨终于停止了，我们可以出门了。
Pinyin: Yǔ zhōngyú tíngzhǐ le, wǒmen kěyǐ chūmén le.
English: The rain has finally stopped, we can go out now.
Analysis: Here, 停止 is used for a natural phenomenon. It's a neutral, descriptive statement.
Example 2:
由于预算问题，这个项目被迫停止了。
Pinyin: Yóuyú yùsuàn wèntí, zhège xiàngmù bèi pò tíngzhǐ le.
English: Due to budget issues, this project was forced to stop.
Analysis: This shows 停止 in a formal business or project management context. The passive voice “被迫” (bèipò - to be forced) is common with 停止.
Example 3:
听到警报声，工人们立刻停止了工作。
Pinyin: Tīngdào jǐngbào shēng, gōngrénmen lìkè tíngzhǐ le gōngzuò.
English: Hearing the alarm, the workers immediately stopped working.
Analysis: 立刻 (lìkè), meaning “immediately,” is often paired with 停止 to emphasize the abruptness of the halt in a formal or emergency situation.
Example 4:
他的呼吸停止了五秒钟，非常危险。
Pinyin: Tā de hūxī tíngzhǐ le wǔ miǎo zhōng, fēicháng wēixiǎn.
English: His breathing stopped for five seconds; it was very dangerous.
Analysis: This is a classic example of using 停止 for an involuntary biological process.
English: Both sides agreed to cease all hostile actions.
Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 停止 in a very formal diplomatic or military context.
Example 6:
电脑停止响应了，我得重启一下。
Pinyin: Diànnǎo tíngzhǐ xiǎngyìng le, wǒ děi chóngqǐ yīxià.
English: The computer has stopped responding, I have to restart it.
Analysis: A common phrase in the digital age. It shows how 停止 is used for technical processes.
Example 7:
在十字路口，司机停止了前进。
Pinyin: Zài shízìlùkǒu, sījī tíngzhǐ le qiánjìn.
English: At the intersection, the driver stopped moving forward.
Analysis: While you would normally say “停车 (tíng chē)” (stop the car), “停止前进” (stop advancing) is a more formal and descriptive way to phrase it, focusing on the cessation of movement.
English: If changes are not made, this destructive behavior will not stop on its own.
Analysis: Here, 停止 is applied to an abstract concept (“behavior”).
Example 9:
随着最后一首歌曲的结束，音乐停止了。
Pinyin: Suízhe zuìhòu yī shǒu gēqǔ de jiéshù, yīnyuè tíngzhǐ le.
English: As the last song ended, the music stopped.
Analysis: This describes the cessation of a process (music playing). Note the difference from 结束 (jiéshù - to conclude), which focuses on the song's natural end, while 停止 focuses on the resulting state of silence.
English: The government ordered all factories to stop discharging sewage.
Analysis: A perfect example of 停止 used in an official command or regulation.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
停止 (tíngzhǐ) vs. 别 (bié)…了: This is the most common mistake for learners. 停止 is for ceasing a process; 别 (bié) is for commanding a person. To tell your friend “Stop talking!”, you must say “别说了! (bié shuō le!)”.
Incorrect: 你的朋友在开玩笑。你说：“停止！” (Nǐ de péngyou zài kāiwánxiào. Nǐ shuō: “Tíngzhǐ!”) This sounds robotic, overly dramatic, and unnatural.
停止 (tíngzhǐ) vs. 停 (tíng):停 (tíng) is more common in daily life for physical stopping. You 停车 (tíngchē - park a car), the bus 停了 (tíng le - the bus stopped), you can ask for a 停车位 (tíngchēwèi - parking spot). 停止 is rarely used for these. Use 停止 when the subject is a process, action, or operation (e.g., production, breathing, running, cooperation).
Incorrect: 我需要停止我的车。(Wǒ xūyào tíngzhǐ wǒ de chē.)
Correct: 我需要停车。(Wǒ xūyào tíng chē.)
Related Terms and Concepts
停 (tíng) - To stop, to park. The first character of 停止. Used more frequently in daily life for the physical act of stopping a vehicle or oneself.
别 (bié) - Don't. The primary way to issue a negative command to someone to stop doing something. It's an informal, direct imperative.
暂停 (zàntíng) - To pause, suspend temporarily. This is the “pause” button on a video or in a game. It strongly implies that the action will resume. It's the antonym of 停止 in terms of finality.
结束 (jiéshù) - To end, finish, conclude. Refers to the natural or planned conclusion of an event (like a movie or meeting). 停止 can be abrupt or forced, while 结束 is usually the expected outcome.
中止 (zhōngzhǐ) - To suspend, terminate (midway). More formal than 停止, it often implies that an activity was stopped before its planned conclusion. Common in legal and contractual language.
放弃 (fàngqì) - To give up, abandon. This refers to a conscious decision to stop trying or pursuing something, often involving personal will or emotion.
禁止 (jìnzhǐ) - To prohibit, forbid. This is a preventative “stop.” It's about rules that forbid an action from ever starting (e.g., “No Smoking”). 停止 is about stopping an action that is already in progress.
关闭 (guānbì) - To close, shut down. A specific type of stopping, used for things like shops, doors, windows, and computer applications.