멈추다

§ What does 멈추다 mean?

The Korean verb 멈추다 (meomchuda) means 'to stop'. It's a really common and useful word, and you'll hear it and use it a lot in everyday Korean conversations. Think of anything that can come to a halt, and you can likely use 멈추다 to describe that action.

DEFINITION

To stop; to halt; to cease movement or activity.

This verb can be used for a wide range of situations. You can use it when a car stops, when the rain stops, when someone stops talking, or even when a machine stops working. It's a versatile verb, which makes it one of the first verbs you should learn as a beginner in Korean.

§ When do people use 멈추다?

Let's look at some common scenarios where 멈추다 is used. Understanding these examples will help you grasp the nuance and practical application of the word.

• Stopping a vehicle: This is probably one of the most frequent uses. If you're talking about a bus, car, or train stopping, 멈추다 is the word to use.

버스가 멈췄어요.

HINT

The bus stopped.

여기서 차를 멈춰주세요.

HINT

Please stop the car here.

• Stopping an action or activity: You can use 멈추다 to indicate that an action has ceased. This could be anything from someone talking to a child crying.

아이가 울음을 멈췄어요.

HINT

The child stopped crying.

그는 갑자기 말을 멈췄다.

HINT

He suddenly stopped talking.

• Stopping a natural phenomenon: Weather events like rain or snow, or even wind, can be described as stopping using 멈추다.

비가 멈추면 나갈 거예요.

HINT

I'll go out when the rain stops.

• Stopping a device or machine: If a clock stops, or your computer freezes, 멈추다 is appropriate.

시계가 멈췄어요.

HINT

The clock stopped.

As you can see, 멈추다 is quite flexible. It's a great verb to add to your vocabulary early on because it applies to so many everyday situations. Pay attention to how it's used in Korean dramas, songs, or conversations you hear, and you'll quickly get a feel for it.