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A1 verb #1,500 am häufigsten 9 Min. Lesezeit

停止

tingzhi Top 1,500

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Erklärung 停止 in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners are introduced to 停止 (tíng zhǐ) as a basic vocabulary word meaning 'to stop'. At this stage, the focus is on recognizing the word in simple, everyday contexts. Learners will mostly encounter 停止 in short sentences describing the end of a visible or audible action, such as the weather changing or music ending. For example, '雨停止了' (The rain stopped) or '音乐停止了' (The music stopped). A1 learners should practice combining 停止 with the particle 了 (le) to indicate that an action has finished. They should also learn the polite imperative form '请停止...' (Please stop...), which is highly useful for classroom management or basic requests, such as '请停止说话' (Please stop talking). The primary goal at this level is to distinguish 停止 from words that mean 'to start' (开始) and to understand that it is used for actions, not for physically stopping a car or a person in a casual setting. Teachers should emphasize that shouting '停止！' as a standalone command is unnatural, guiding students to use '停！' instead. By mastering these simple structures, A1 learners build a solid foundation for expressing the cessation of basic activities.

At the A2 level, learners expand their use of 停止 (tíng zhǐ) to include more varied subjects and objects. They begin to use the word in slightly more complex sentences, describing routines, habits, and ongoing states. For instance, an A2 learner might say '他停止了工作' (He stopped working) or '机器停止了' (The machine stopped). At this stage, learners are introduced to negative forms, learning to use 没有 (méi yǒu) for past actions ('他没有停止') and 不 (bù) for present/future intentions ('我不停止'). They also start to encounter 停止 in public signs and simple announcements, such as '停止营业' (Closed for business). A2 learners should practice using adverbs of time and manner with 停止, such as 突然 (suddenly) or 终于 (finally), to add detail to their sentences: '雨终于停止了' (The rain finally stopped). Furthermore, they begin to differentiate 停止 from similar everyday words like 停下 (to stop and stay). The focus remains on practical, daily communication, ensuring the learner can accurately describe when activities, weather events, or mechanical operations come to a halt.

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At the B1 level, the usage of 停止 (tíng zhǐ) becomes more abstract and professional. Learners are expected to use 停止 in contexts related to business, news, and formal discussions. They will construct sentences like '公司停止了这个项目' (The company stopped this project) or '我们需要停止这种行为' (We need to stop this behavior). B1 learners should be comfortable using 停止 as both a transitive verb (taking an object) and an intransitive verb (describing a subject). They will also learn to use 停止 in conjunction with conjunctions and complex sentence structures, such as '因为下雨，比赛停止了' (Because of the rain, the match stopped). At this intermediate stage, learners are introduced to the nuances between 停止 and its synonyms, particularly 阻止 (to prevent/stop someone else). They must understand that '我阻止他' is correct, while '我停止他' is incorrect. B1 learners will also encounter 停止 in news headlines and formal writing, expanding their reading comprehension skills. Mastery at this level means being able to discuss the cessation of abstract concepts, habits, and formal operations with confidence and grammatical accuracy.

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At the B2 level, learners engage with 停止 (tíng zhǐ) in highly nuanced, abstract, and formal contexts. They are expected to understand and produce complex sentences discussing policies, international relations, economics, and societal trends. For example, a B2 learner might read or say '政府呼吁停止暴力冲突' (The government called for an end to violent conflicts) or '中央银行停止了加息' (The central bank stopped raising interest rates). At this level, the distinction between 停止, 终止 (terminate), and 中止 (suspend) becomes crucial. Learners must choose the exact word based on whether the halt is permanent, temporary, or a general cessation. B2 learners also use 停止 in sophisticated rhetorical structures, such as '从未停止' (never stopped) to express persistence: '人类探索宇宙的脚步从未停止' (Humanity's steps in exploring the universe have never stopped). They will encounter 停止 in literature, academic texts, and professional debates. The focus is on precision, register, and the ability to comprehend subtle implications in authentic Chinese media. Mastery at B2 allows learners to participate in complex discussions about halting processes, policies, and abstract phenomena.

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At the C1 level, learners possess a near-native command of 停止 (tíng zhǐ) and its extensive family of synonyms. They use the word effortlessly in advanced academic, professional, and literary contexts. C1 learners can manipulate the word to create powerful rhetorical effects, often using it in idiomatic or highly stylized phrasing. They understand the subtle emotional and cultural undertones of using 停止 versus other terms. For instance, they can discuss the philosophical implications of stopping, using phrases like '停滞不前' (stagnant and not moving forward) or '适可而止' (stop before going too far). At this level, learners are comfortable reading complex legal documents, historical analyses, and philosophical essays where 停止 and its variants (终止, 中止, 罢休) are used with strict legal or logical precision. They can write persuasive essays arguing for the cessation of certain global practices, using 停止 as a central thematic verb. C1 mastery involves not just grammatical correctness, but stylistic elegance, ensuring that the use of 停止 perfectly matches the tone, formality, and intent of the discourse.

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At the C2 level, the learner's understanding and application of 停止 (tíng zhǐ) are indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker. They navigate the deepest nuances of the Chinese language, employing 停止 in classical references, poetry, high-level diplomacy, and complex philosophical discourse. C2 learners can effortlessly dissect the etymology of the characters 停 and 止, understanding how their historical meanings influence modern usage. They use 停止 in highly abstract and metaphorical ways, such as discussing the cessation of existence, the halting of historical epochs, or the stillness of the mind in meditation. They are fully adept at using four-character idioms (成语) that contain the concept of stopping, seamlessly integrating them into spontaneous, high-level debate or literary writing. At this pinnacle of proficiency, 停止 is not just a vocabulary word; it is a conceptual tool used to articulate the boundaries of action, time, and existence in the Chinese worldview. The C2 learner wields this tool with absolute precision, elegance, and cultural resonance.

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停止 in 30 Sekunden

Means 'to stop' or 'to cease'.
Used for actions, events, and processes.
More formal than the single character 停.
Often followed by a verb or abstract noun.

The Chinese word 停止 (tíng zhǐ) is a fundamental vocabulary item that every learner must master early in their journey. It translates directly to 'to stop', 'to halt', or 'to cease' in English. Understanding how to use this word correctly will significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively in both spoken and written Chinese. When we look at the characters, 停 (tíng) means to stop or pause, and 止 (zhǐ) also means to stop or halt. Together, they form a strong, formal two-character compound word that emphasizes the complete cessation of an action, state, or process. Unlike the single character 停, which is often used in casual conversation, 停止 carries a slightly more formal weight and is frequently used in official announcements, news broadcasts, and written instructions.

Literal Meaning: The combination of two characters that both mean 'stop' creates a definitive and absolute cessation of activity.

For example, you might see signs that say 停止营业 (tíng zhǐ yíng yè), which means 'closed for business' or 'operations ceased'. It is crucial to understand that 停止 is usually followed by a noun or a verb phrase that represents the action being stopped. You can say 停止工作 (stop working), 停止呼吸 (stop breathing), or 停止比赛 (stop the match).

请停止讲话。

However, you cannot simply say '停止！' as a standalone command in the same way you might yell 'Stop!' in English; in that case, you would just yell '停！'. This distinction is a common stumbling block for beginners. Let us explore the various dimensions of this word. When you want to tell someone to stop doing something annoying, you might use 停止. In professional environments, 停止 is the standard term for halting production, stopping a project, or ending a service.

工厂停止了生产。

It is also used in medical contexts, such as when a heart stops beating (心脏停止跳动).

Medical Context: Used to describe the cessation of vital signs, such as breathing or heartbeat.

The versatility of 停止 makes it indispensable. Whether you are reading a news article about a ceasefire (停止交火) or a software manual telling you how to stop a program (停止运行), this word appears everywhere.

雨停止了。

Furthermore, understanding 停止 helps you grasp the concept of state changes in Chinese grammar. When an action stops, it represents a change of state, which is why it is frequently followed by the particle 了 (le). In summary, 停止 is a robust, formal, and highly versatile verb that denotes the end of an ongoing action or state. By mastering its usage, you elevate your Chinese from basic conversational phrases to a more mature, articulate level of expression.

音乐突然停止了。

Everyday Usage: Commonly used to describe the stopping of weather events, like rain or snow.

我们必须停止争吵。

Learning to integrate 停止 into your daily vocabulary will allow you to command situations, describe changes in your environment, and understand formal instructions with ease and confidence.

Using 停止 (tíng zhǐ) correctly in sentences requires an understanding of its grammatical behavior as a transitive and intransitive verb. In Chinese, 停止 can function both ways, meaning it can take a direct object or stand alone to describe a subject that has come to a halt.

Transitive Usage: When 停止 takes an object, the object is usually an action or an event, not a physical object.

For instance, you can say 停止工作 (stop working), where 工作 is the action being stopped. You would not typically say 停止车 (stop the car); instead, you would use 停车 (tíng chē). This is a vital distinction.

警察命令他们停止前进。

When used intransitively, the subject itself is the thing that stops. For example, 比赛停止了 (The match stopped). Notice the use of the particle 了 (le) at the end of the sentence. The particle 了 indicates a change of state—from moving to not moving, or from happening to not happening.

风终于停止了。

Another common sentence structure involves using 停止 as a command. While you cannot shout '停止！' by itself, you can say '请停止...' (Please stop...).

Imperative Structure: Form commands by placing 请 (please) before 停止, followed by the action.

For example, 请停止大声喧哗 (Please stop making loud noises). This is a polite but firm way to request someone to cease an activity.

请停止你的抱怨。

Negating 停止 is also straightforward. You use 不 (bù) for present or future habitual actions, and 没有 (méi yǒu) for past actions. For example, 他没有停止努力 (He did not stop trying). If you want to say someone never stops doing something, you can use 从未停止 (cóng wèi tíng zhǐ).

我从未停止爱你。

Furthermore, 停止 can be modified by adverbs like 突然 (tū rán - suddenly), 渐渐 (jiàn jiàn - gradually), or 立即 (lì jí - immediately). Placing these adverbs before 停止 adds rich detail to your sentences.

Adverbial Modification: Adverbs placed directly before 停止 describe how the stopping occurred.

机器突然停止了运转。

By mastering these sentence patterns—transitive, intransitive, imperative, negative, and modified—you will be able to deploy 停止 accurately in almost any context, ensuring your Chinese sounds natural and grammatically correct.

The word 停止 (tíng zhǐ) is ubiquitous in Chinese-speaking environments, but its usage is heavily context-dependent. You will hear and see it most frequently in formal, public, or professional settings.

Public Announcements: Used in train stations, airports, and public broadcasts to announce the cessation of services.

For example, at a train station, you might hear an announcement saying '列车已经停止检票' (The train has stopped ticket checking/boarding). In this context, 停止 is the standard, professional way to communicate that a process has ended.

该航班已停止登机。

You will also encounter 停止 extensively in written notices and signs. If a store is undergoing renovations or has closed down, a sign on the door will likely read 停止营业 (Operations ceased). In the workplace, 停止 is used during meetings or in emails to discuss the halting of projects, funding, or production.

公司决定停止这个项目。

News and Media: Journalists use 停止 to report on international relations, economics, and conflicts.

When reading Chinese news, you will frequently see phrases like 停止冲突 (stop the conflict) or 停止合作 (cease cooperation). The formal tone of 停止 makes it perfectly suited for journalistic writing.

双方同意停止交火。

In digital contexts, such as software interfaces or mobile apps, 停止 is the standard translation for 'Stop' buttons (e.g., stopping a download or a media player).

点击这里停止下载。

Everyday Conversations: While slightly formal, it is still used in serious daily conversations to demand the end of a behavior.

For instance, parents might tell their children to 停止打闹 (stop fighting/playing roughly).

你们俩快停止吵架！

By recognizing these common contexts, you will not only improve your reading and listening comprehension but also know exactly when it is appropriate to use 停止 yourself, ensuring your Chinese is contextually accurate and culturally appropriate.

When learning the word 停止 (tíng zhǐ), English speakers often make a few predictable mistakes due to direct translation habits. The most glaring error is using 停止 as a standalone exclamation.

The Exclamation Mistake: Shouting '停止！' to mean 'Stop!' is unnatural in Chinese.

In English, if someone is running away or doing something dangerous, you yell 'Stop!'. If you yell '停止！' in Chinese, it sounds robotic and overly formal, like a computer issuing a command. Instead, native speakers yell '停！' (tíng) or '住手！' (zhù shǒu - stop your hands/actions).

快停止这种危险的行为。

Another frequent mistake involves the object of the verb. 停止 is used to stop *actions* or *processes*, not physical movement of vehicles or people in a casual sense.

他没有停止思考。

Confusing 停止 with 阻止: 停止 means an action comes to an end. 阻止 (zǔ zhǐ) means to prevent or stop someone else from doing something.

If you want to say 'I stopped him from leaving', you cannot use 停止. You must say 我阻止了他离开. 停止 is about the cessation of the action itself, not the act of intervening to block someone.

大雪使交通停止了。

Furthermore, learners often forget to use the particle 了 when describing an action that has successfully stopped in the past. Saying '昨天雨停止' is grammatically incomplete; it must be '昨天雨停止了'.

音乐终于停止了。

Overusing 停止 in Casual Speech: Using 停止 for very simple, everyday actions can sound too formal.

For example, instead of saying '请停止看电视' (Please stop watching TV), a native speaker is more likely to say '别看电视了' (Don't watch TV anymore).

会议在五点停止。

By being aware of these common pitfalls—avoiding standalone exclamations, choosing the right objects, distinguishing it from 阻止, remembering your particles, and matching the formality level—you will use 停止 with the precision of a native speaker.

The Chinese language is rich with vocabulary related to stopping, pausing, and ending. While 停止 (tíng zhǐ) is the most versatile and common, understanding its synonyms and alternatives will greatly enrich your expressive capabilities.

停 (tíng): The single character version, used in casual speech and for physical halting (like parking a car).

As mentioned earlier, 停 is what you yell when you want someone to stop immediately. It is also used in compounds like 停车 (park/stop the car) and 停电 (power outage).

请停止这种无聊的游戏。

Another very similar word is 终止 (zhōng zhǐ).

终止 (zhōng zhǐ): Means to terminate or bring to a final end, often used in legal or highly formal contexts.

While 停止 can imply a temporary or permanent halt, 终止 almost always implies a permanent termination. For example, you 终止 a contract (终止合同), meaning it is completely finished and void.

合同已经停止生效。

Then there is 中止 (zhōng zhǐ), which sounds exactly the same as 终止 but uses the character 中 (middle).

中止 (zhōng zhǐ): Means to suspend or pause midway through an action, with the possibility of resuming.

If a football match is suspended due to rain, it is 中止. If it is completely canceled, it might be 终止. 停止 can cover both, making it a safer, broader choice if you are unsure.

比赛因雨停止。

We also have 阻止 (zǔ zhǐ), which means to prevent or stop someone else from doing something, focusing on the intervention rather than the cessation.

没有任何力量可以停止时间。

Finally, 停顿 (tíng dùn) means a brief pause, often used when speaking or reading. By learning these nuanced alternatives, you can express exactly what kind of 'stop' you mean, whether it is a permanent termination (终止), a temporary suspension (中止), an intervention (阻止), a brief pause (停顿), or a general cessation (停止).

机器停止了轰鸣。

Choosing the right word demonstrates a high level of proficiency and cultural understanding.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The character 止 (foot) is a foundational radical in Chinese. You can find it hidden inside many other characters related to walking or movement, such as 步 (step) and 走 (walk). By combining 'rest at a pavilion' (停) with 'halt the foot' (止), the word 停止 creates a very strong visual metaphor for coming to a complete stop.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /tɪŋ ʒɪ/

US /tɪŋ ʒɪ/

Both syllables are stressed relatively equally, but the third tone on 'zhǐ' often gives it a slightly longer duration in isolation.

Reimt sich auf

行 (xíng) 明 (míng) 平 (píng) 情 (qíng) 迎 (yíng) 纸 (zhǐ) 指 (zhǐ) 只 (zhǐ)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'i' in 'zhǐ' like the 'ee' in 'see'. It should be a buzzy, retroflex sound.
Failing to make the second tone on 'tíng' rise sharply enough.
Pronouncing 'zh' like a French 'j' (zh) instead of a hard, retroflex 'j' sound.
Ignoring the third tone dip on 'zhǐ', making it sound flat.
Confusing the tones: saying tīng (1st tone) instead of tíng (2nd tone).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

The characters are common and relatively easy to recognize.

Schreiben 3/5

停 has many strokes (11), which can be tricky for absolute beginners.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but remembering the 3rd tone on 止 is important.

Hören 2/5

Distinct sounds, easy to pick up in context.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

不 (no/not) 了 (completed action particle) 请 (please) 开始 (start) 工作 (work)

Als Nächstes lernen

继续 (continue) 暂停 (pause) 阻止 (prevent) 终止 (terminate) 结束 (finish)

Fortgeschritten

停滞 (stagnate) 罢休 (give up/rest) 戛然而止 (abruptly stop) 适可而止 (stop appropriately) 废止 (abolish)

Wichtige Grammatik

The particle 了 (le) for change of state

雨停止了。 (The rain stopped. - It was raining, now it is not.)

Negation of past actions with 没有 (méi yǒu)

他没有停止工作。 (He did not stop working.)

Imperative sentences with 请 (qǐng)

请停止大声喧哗。 (Please stop making loud noise.)

Adverbial modification before the verb

机器突然停止了。 (The machine suddenly stopped.)

Using verbs as objects

他停止了抱怨。 (He stopped complaining. - 'Complaining' acts as the object of 'stop'.)

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Beispiele nach Niveau

雨停止了。

The rain stopped.

Subject + 停止 + 了 (completed action).

音乐停止了。

The music stopped.

Subject + 停止 + 了.

请停止讲话。

Please stop talking.

请 (Please) + 停止 + Verb.

比赛停止了。

The match stopped.

Subject + 停止 + 了.

他停止了唱歌。

He stopped singing.

Subject + 停止 + 了 + Verb.

风停止了。

The wind stopped.

Subject + 停止 + 了.

请停止跑。

Please stop running.

请 + 停止 + Verb.

雪停止了。

The snow stopped.

Subject + 停止 + 了.

工厂停止了工作。

The factory stopped working.

Subject + 停止 + 了 + Noun/Verb.

他们停止了讨论。

They stopped discussing.

Subject + 停止 + 了 + Verb.

请停止看电视。

Please stop watching TV.

请 + 停止 + Verb Phrase.

机器突然停止了。

The machine suddenly stopped.

Adverb (突然) + 停止 + 了.

他没有停止学习。

He did not stop studying.

Negative (没有) + 停止 + Verb.

我们必须停止。

We must stop.

Modal verb (必须) + 停止.

火车停止了前进。

The train stopped moving forward.

Subject + 停止 + 了 + Verb.

请停止玩手机。

Please stop playing on your phone.

请 + 停止 + Verb Phrase.

公司决定停止这个项目。

The company decided to stop this project.

Verb (决定) + 停止 + Object.

因为大雪，航班停止了。

Because of heavy snow, flights were stopped.

Conjunction (因为) + Subject + 停止 + 了.

我们应该停止这种浪费。

We should stop this kind of waste.

Modal (应该) + 停止 + Object.

这家店已经停止营业了。

This store has already stopped operating (closed).

Adverb (已经) + 停止 + Noun/Verb + 了.

医生让他停止抽烟。

The doctor told him to stop smoking.

Verb (让) + Object + 停止 + Verb.

心脏停止了跳动。

The heart stopped beating.

Subject + 停止 + 了 + Verb.

他们从未停止过努力。

They have never stopped trying.

Adverb (从未) + 停止 + 过 + Verb.

请立即停止你的行为。

Please stop your behavior immediately.

Adverb (立即) + 停止 + Object.

政府呼吁停止暴力冲突。

The government called for an end to violent conflicts.

Verb (呼吁) + 停止 + Noun Phrase.

谈判因分歧过大而停止。

The negotiations stopped due to excessive disagreements.

Subject + 因...而 (due to) + 停止.

人类探索宇宙的脚步从未停止。

Humanity's steps in exploring the universe have never stopped.

Complex Subject + 从未 + 停止.

该软件将停止提供更新服务。

The software will stop providing update services.

Future marker (将) + 停止 + Verb Phrase.

为了保护环境，必须停止砍伐森林。

To protect the environment, deforestation must be stopped.

Purpose clause (为了...) + 必须 + 停止 + Verb Phrase.

他试图停止脑海中的胡思乱想。

He tried to stop the random thoughts in his mind.

Verb (试图) + 停止 + Complex Object.

随着资金断裂，工程被迫停止。

With the break in funding, the project was forced to stop.

Passive marker (被迫) + 停止.

我们不能停止对真理的追求。

We cannot stop the pursuit of truth.

Modal (不能) + 停止 + Prepositional Phrase.

交战双方终于达成了停止敌对行动的协议。

The warring parties finally reached an agreement to cease hostilities.

Complex Noun Phrase modifying 协议 (agreement).

经济的衰退导致许多大型企业停止了扩张步伐。

The economic recession caused many large enterprises to halt their pace of expansion.

Verb (导致) + Subject + 停止 + Object.

面对舆论的压力，该计划被紧急停止。

Facing public pressure, the plan was urgently halted.

Passive voice (被) + Adverb (紧急) + 停止.

艺术创作一旦停止，灵感便会枯竭。

Once artistic creation stops, inspiration will dry up.

Conditional clause (一旦...便...).

他以绝食的方式抗议，直到当局停止迫害。

He protested by going on a hunger strike until the authorities stopped the persecution.

Time clause (直到...停止...).

历史的车轮滚滚向前，任何人都无法使其停止。

The wheels of history roll forward; no one can make them stop.

Causative verb (使) + Pronoun + 停止.

该法案旨在停止跨国公司的逃税行为。

The bill aims to stop the tax evasion practices of multinational corporations.

Verb (旨在) + 停止 + Complex Object.

在达到目的之前，他绝不会停止他的阴谋。

Before achieving his goal, he will absolutely not stop his conspiracy.

Strong negation (绝不会) + 停止.

纵观历史，人类对未知的探索从未有过片刻的停止。

Throughout history, humanity's exploration of the unknown has never had a moment's pause.

Formal phrasing (从未有过片刻的停止).

当生命体征完全停止时，医学上即宣告死亡。

When vital signs completely cease, clinical death is declared.

Scientific/Medical register.

这种文化传统的传承，若不加以保护，恐将停止于我们这一代。

If not protected, the transmission of this cultural tradition may fearfully cease with our generation.

Formal conditional (若不...) and speculative (恐将...).

他那如泉涌般的才思戛然而止，仿佛大脑停止了运转。

His spring-like flow of inspiration came to an abrupt halt, as if his brain had stopped functioning.

Use of idiom (戛然而止) alongside 停止.

在宇宙的宏大尺度下，一切喧嚣最终都将归于停止。

On the grand scale of the universe, all clamor will ultimately return to a state of cessation.

Philosophical/Literary register (归于停止).

该条约的废除标志着两国长达十年的蜜月期正式停止。

The abolition of the treaty marked the formal cessation of the decade-long honeymoon period between the two countries.

Diplomatic/Historical register.

思想的停滞比肉体的死亡更可怕，因为那是灵魂的停止。

The stagnation of thought is more terrifying than the death of the flesh, for it is the cessation of the soul.

Metaphorical use of 停止.

只有当剥削的根源被彻底拔除，阶级斗争才会真正停止。

Only when the roots of exploitation are thoroughly eradicated will class struggle truly cease.

Political/Ideological register (只有当...才会...).

Häufige Kollokationen

停止工作

停止营业

停止呼吸

停止比赛

停止生产

停止前进

停止供水

停止供电

停止发售

停止交火

Häufige Phrasen

停止一切活动

— To stop all activities. Often used in official bans or severe weather warnings.

因台风，学校停止一切活动。 (Due to the typhoon, the school stopped all activities.)

从未停止

— Have never stopped. Used to express persistence or continuous occurrence.

他从未停止过努力。 (He has never stopped trying.)

被迫停止

— Forced to stop. Used when an external factor causes the cessation.

工程因资金不足被迫停止。 (The project was forced to stop due to lack of funds.)

立即停止

— Stop immediately. A strong command or urgent action.

请立即停止这种危险行为。 (Please stop this dangerous behavior immediately.)

逐渐停止

— Gradually stop. Used for things that slow down before coming to a halt.

雨逐渐停止了。 (The rain gradually stopped.)

停止不前

— Stagnant and not moving forward.

我们的研究停止不前。 (Our research is stagnant.)

宣布停止

— Announce the stopping of something.

官方宣布停止搜救。 (Officials announced the end of the search and rescue.)

要求停止

— Demand to stop.

民众要求停止战争。 (The public demands an end to the war.)

停止运行

— Stop running (for machines, software, or systems).

系统已停止运行。 (The system has stopped running.)

停止支付

— Stop payment.

银行停止支付这张支票。 (The bank stopped payment on this check.)

Wird oft verwechselt mit

停止 vs 停 (tíng)

停 is the informal, single-character version. It is used for physical stopping (like parking a car) and as a standalone command. 停止 is formal and used for processes/actions.

停止 vs 阻止 (zǔ zhǐ)

阻止 means to prevent or stop someone else from doing something. 停止 means the action itself comes to an end.

停止 vs 终止 (zhōng zhǐ)

终止 implies a permanent, often legal, termination (like a contract). 停止 is a general halt, which could be temporary or permanent.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"停滞不前"

— To be at a standstill; to stagnate and make no progress.

如果不创新，企业就会停滞不前。 (If there is no innovation, the enterprise will stagnate.)

Formal

"树欲静而风不止"

— The tree wants to remain quiet, but the wind will not stop. A metaphor for things not going as one wishes, often referring to children wanting to care for parents who have already passed away.

树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不待。 (The tree wants to be still but the wind won't stop; the child wants to support the parents but they are gone.)

Literary

"适可而止"

— To stop before going too far; to know when to stop.

开玩笑要适可而止。 (Jokes should be kept within reasonable limits.)

Neutral

"浅尝辄止"

— To stop after merely dabbling; to not go deeply into a subject.

做学问不能浅尝辄止。 (One cannot just dabble when doing scholarly research.)

Formal

"叹为观止"

— To gasp in amazement; to acclaim as the ultimate perfection. (Here 止 means the limit of perfection).

这场表演真是令人叹为观止。 (This performance is truly breathtaking.)

Formal

"学无止境"

— Knowledge has no limits; learning is an endless process.

学无止境，我们应该活到老学到老。 (Learning has no bounds; we should learn as long as we live.)

Formal

"举止言谈"

— Speech and behavior; manners. (Here 止 refers to behavior/demeanor).

他的举止言谈非常优雅。 (His speech and manners are very elegant.)

Neutral

"止步不前"

— To halt and not move forward; to be stuck.

遇到困难不能止步不前。 (One must not halt in the face of difficulties.)

Neutral

"欲罢不能"

— To want to stop but be unable to; unable to tear oneself away.

这本小说太精彩了，让人欲罢不能。 (This novel is so wonderful that one cannot put it down.)

Neutral

"戛然而止"

— To come to an abrupt halt (usually referring to sound or a continuous process).

音乐戛然而止。 (The music came to an abrupt halt.)

Literary

Leicht verwechselbar

停止 vs 停下 (tíng xià)

Both mean to stop.

停下 is used for physical movement (stopping walking, stopping a car). 停止 is used for abstract actions, processes, or events (stopping work, rain stopping).

他停下脚步。(He stopped walking.) vs. 他停止工作。(He stopped working.)

停止 vs 结束 (jié shù)

Both relate to things ending.

结束 means to finish or conclude (a meeting, a movie, a relationship). 停止 means to halt an ongoing action, which might not be 'finished' naturally, just halted.

会议结束了。(The meeting finished.) vs. 会议停止了。(The meeting was halted.)

停止 vs 暂停 (zàn tíng)

Both mean to stop.

暂停 specifically means to pause temporarily with the clear intention of resuming. 停止 is a general stop, which could be permanent.

比赛暂停五分钟。(The match is paused for 5 minutes.)

停止 vs 废止 (fèi zhǐ)

Both contain 止 and relate to stopping.

废止 is a highly formal legal term meaning to abolish or annul a law or regulation. 停止 cannot be used to abolish a law.

该法律已被废止。(The law has been abolished.)

停止 vs 罢休 (bà xiū)

Both mean to stop doing something.

罢休 is idiomatic and implies giving up or letting a matter drop. It is almost always used in the negative (不肯罢休 - refuse to let it go).

他不达目的决不罢休。(He won't rest until he achieves his goal.)

Satzmuster

[Subject] 停止了。

雨停止了。 (The rain stopped.)

请停止 [Action]。

请停止讲话。 (Please stop talking.)

[Subject] 没有停止 [Action]。

他没有停止学习。 (He did not stop studying.)

[Subject] 突然停止了。

机器突然停止了。 (The machine suddenly stopped.)

[Subject] 决定停止 [Object]。

公司决定停止这个项目。 (The company decided to stop this project.)

因为 [Reason]，[Subject] 停止了。

因为大雪，航班停止了。 (Because of heavy snow, flights stopped.)

[Subject] 被迫停止。

工程被迫停止。 (The project was forced to stop.)

[Subject] 从未有过片刻的停止。

人类的探索从未有过片刻的停止。 (Humanity's exploration has never had a moment's pause.)

Wortfamilie

Verben

停 (tíng - to stop)

止 (zhǐ - to stop/halt)

Verwandt

停车场 (tíng chē chǎng - parking lot)

停电 (tíng diàn - power outage)

止痛药 (zhǐ tòng yào - painkiller)

停止符 (tíng zhǐ fú - stop sign/symbol)

暂停 (zàn tíng - to pause)

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frequency

Very High

Häufige Fehler

停止！(As a shout to stop a thief) → 站住！(Zhàn zhù!) or 停！(Tíng!)
停止 is too formal and descriptive to be used as an urgent, standalone exclamation.
我停止他离开。 → 我阻止了他离开。
停止 means an action stops. 阻止 (zǔ zhǐ) means to prevent someone from doing something. You cannot '停止' a person.
昨天雨停止。 → 昨天雨停止了。
When describing a change of state (from raining to not raining) that has been completed, the particle 了 is required.
请停止车。 → 请停车。
停止 is not used for the physical halting of vehicles in casual speech. 停车 is the specific verb-object compound for parking/stopping a car.
他不停止了工作。 → 他没有停止工作。
To negate a past action, you must use 没有 (méi yǒu), not 不 (bù). And you drop the 了 when using 没有.

Tipps

Use '了' for completed stops

Always remember to add '了' (le) after 停止 when an ongoing action has successfully come to a halt. E.g., 音乐停止了。

Don't shout it

Never use '停止！' as a standalone shout to stop someone. Use '停！' (Tíng!) instead.

Not for cars

Do not say 停止车 to mean 'stop the car'. The correct phrase is 停车 (tíng chē).

Polite commands

When asking someone to stop doing something annoying, soften it with 请 (qǐng). 请停止讲话 (Please stop talking).

停止 vs 阻止

Use 停止 for the action ending. Use 阻止 (zǔ zhǐ) if you are actively preventing someone else from doing something.

Formal contexts

Expect to see 停止 frequently in news articles, official announcements, and business emails. It elevates your professional vocabulary.

Business closures

Memorize the phrase 停止营业 (tíng zhǐ yíng yè). You will see it on shop doors everywhere in China when a business closes.

Master the 'zh'

Practice the retroflex 'zh' sound in 止. Your tongue should be curled back, almost touching the roof of your mouth.

Stroke order of 止

The character 止 has a specific stroke order: middle vertical, short horizontal, long vertical, bottom horizontal. Practice it!

Use idioms

To sound advanced, learn idioms containing 止, like 适可而止 (know when to stop). It shows deep cultural understanding.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine a PERSON (亻) stopping at a PAVILION (亭) to rest their FOOT (止). They have completely STOPPED (停止) their journey.

Visuelle Assoziation

Picture a red octagonal STOP sign. On the sign, there is a small pavilion and a footprint. This visualizes the components of 停 and 止.

Word Web

停止 (Stop) -> 停 (Pause/Stop) -> 停车 (Park car) -> 止 (Halt) -> 阻止 (Prevent) -> 终止 (Terminate) -> 暂停 (Pause) -> 停止营业 (Closed)

Herausforderung

Next time you watch a video or listen to music, say '停止' out loud right before you press the pause or stop button.

Wortherkunft

The word 停止 is a compound of two characters that both inherently mean 'to stop'. 停 (tíng) is composed of the person radical (亻) and the phonetic/semantic component 亭 (tíng - pavilion). Historically, a pavilion was a place where travelers would stop to rest. 止 (zhǐ) is an ancient pictograph representing a human foot, originally meaning 'to stand still' or 'to halt one's steps'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To physically halt one's steps and rest.

Sino-Tibetan

Kultureller Kontext

No particular cultural sensitivity issues. It is a neutral, formal word.

English speakers often use 'stop' as a universal command ('Stop!'). In Chinese, 停止 is rarely used this way; it is descriptive or formal. Yelling '停止！' sounds like a poorly translated movie.

The ancient text 'Daodejing' (道德经) discusses the wisdom of knowing when to stop (知止). The idiom '树欲静而风不止' is a famous classical reference from the Han dynasty text 'Han Shi Waizhuan'. Modern public service announcements frequently use '停止' in campaigns, such as '停止酒驾' (Stop drunk driving).

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Weather

雨停止了 (Rain stopped)
风停止了 (Wind stopped)
雪停止了 (Snow stopped)
暴风雨停止了 (Storm stopped)

Business/Work

停止营业 (Closed for business)
停止工作 (Stop working)
停止生产 (Stop production)
停止项目 (Stop the project)

Classroom/Management

请停止讲话 (Please stop talking)
停止讨论 (Stop discussing)
停止打闹 (Stop playing roughly)
停止作弊 (Stop cheating)

Technology/Machines

机器停止运转 (Machine stopped running)
系统停止响应 (System stopped responding)
停止下载 (Stop downloading)
停止播放 (Stop playing media)

News/Politics

停止交火 (Ceasefire)
停止冲突 (Stop the conflict)
停止合作 (Cease cooperation)
停止制裁 (Stop sanctions)

Gesprächseinstiege

"你知道这家店什么时候停止营业吗？ (Do you know when this store stops operating/closes?)"

"雨终于停止了，我们出去走走吧？ (The rain finally stopped, shall we go for a walk?)"

"音乐怎么突然停止了？ (Why did the music suddenly stop?)"

"你觉得他们会停止这个项目吗？ (Do you think they will stop this project?)"

"我们应该如何停止这种浪费？ (How should we stop this kind of waste?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe a time when a sudden power outage caused everything in your house to 停止 (stop).

Write about a bad habit you want to 停止 (stop) and how you plan to do it.

Imagine a world where time can 停止 (stop). What would you do?

Reflect on a project or hobby you had to 停止 (stop) and why.

Write a short story that ends with the phrase: '一切都停止了' (Everything stopped).

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, that would sound very unnatural. Native speakers would yell '站住！' (Zhàn zhù! - Halt/Freeze!) or '抓小偷！' (Zhuā xiǎo tōu! - Catch the thief!). 停止 is not used as an emergency exclamation.

停 is more casual and can be used for physical objects (停车 - stop the car). 停止 is more formal and is used for actions, events, or processes (停止工作 - stop working).

Not always, but you must use '了' if you are describing an action that has successfully stopped in the past or present (e.g., 雨停止了 - The rain stopped). If it is a command (请停止) or future intention, you do not use '了'.

Yes, but the object is usually a verb or an abstract noun representing an action. For example, 停止呼吸 (stop breathing) or 停止比赛 (stop the match).

You can use the phrase '从未停止' (cóng wèi tíng zhǐ). For example, '我从未停止爱你' (I have never stopped loving you).

停止营业 is the formal way written on signs. In casual speech, people might just say '关门了' (guān mén le - closed the door).

It sounds a bit robotic. It is much better to use 停下 (tíng xià) or 停住 (tíng zhù) for physical movement. Say '他停下了脚步' instead of '他停止了走'.

It is a common four-character phrase meaning 'stagnant and not moving forward'. It is often used to describe an economy, research, or personal progress that has stalled.

Use 没有 (méi yǒu) for the past (他没有停止 - He didn't stop) and 不 (bù) for present/future habits (我不停止 - I won't stop). Never use 不了 with 停止 for past actions.

It is primarily a verb. However, it can function as a noun in certain contexts, such as '呼吁全面停止' (calling for a complete stop/ceasefire).

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writing

Translate: The rain stopped.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

雨 (rain) 停止 (stopped) 了 (completed action).