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辍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chuòto suspend, to stop, to haltvg, 12 strokes, radical 车, rank #40654, Very Hard
chuòto stop (before completion)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 车, rank #40654, Very Hard
chuòto ceaseunknown, 12 strokes, radical 车, rank #40654, Very Hard
chuò(chuo4) T4
  1. 1to suspend, to stop, to halt
  2. 2to stop (before completion)
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March 24, 2026

(輟)chuò(chuo4)

The character 辍 (chuò) means to suspend or stop something, often before it is completed. It is commonly used in contexts involving the interruption of an action or process, like halting a project or ceasing an activity. The nuance suggests an unfinished state, indicating that something has been stopped prematurely.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#40654DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of stopping something before it is finished can relate to traditional values of perseverance and completion, often emphasized in education and work ethics.

Memory Tip

Imagine a train (the radical 辶 suggests movement) suddenly stopping on its tracks, representing the idea of halting progress. The sound 'chuò' can be remembered by thinking of a 'choo-choo' train that comes to a sudden stop, leaving passengers in suspense.

Meanings of 辍

chuò(chuo4)
1to suspend, to stop, to halt
2to stop (before completion)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 辍

Simplified
Traditional
12Strokes
Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 辍

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AI Study Notes for 辍

Quick Contrast

中止 (zhōngzhǐ) - use 辍 (chuò) when emphasizing an interruption before completion, while 中止 (zhōngzhǐ) suggests a formal or definitive cessation.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a train (the radical 辶 suggests movement) suddenly stopping on its tracks, representing the idea of halting progress. The sound 'chuò' can be remembered by thinking of a 'choo-choo' train that comes to a sudden stop, leaving passengers in suspense.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 辍 with similar verbs for stopping, such as 停 (tíng). Use 辍 specifically for actions that are stopped before completion, which can be more informal, while 停 is more general. Pay attention to the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 辍 is not in the HSK levels, it connects with verbs like 停 (tíng) and 结束 (jiéshù) found in lower levels. Focus on differentiating between these verbs to enhance your understanding of stopping versus completion.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of stopping something before it is finished can relate to traditional values of perseverance and completion, often emphasized in education and work ethics.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 辍 with 终止 (zhōngzhǐ), which means to terminate completely. For instance, saying '我辍了这个项目' (Wǒ chuòle zhège xiàngmù) incorrectly implies stopping rather than finishing, while '我终止了这个项目' means to terminate it entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 辍

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Etymology of 辍

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

cart

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 辍?

Decomposition of 辍

IDS Structure⿰车叕
Full Character
=
Che1
left
zhuo2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 辍?

Write 辍

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 辍

辍 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

现在学生的____学率是三分之一。

The drop-out rate among students is currently one in three.

Example Sentences for 辍 (2)

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1
现在学生的辍学率是三分之一。

xiàn zài xué shēng de chuò xué shuài shì sān fēn zhī yī。

The drop-out rate among students is currently one in three.
2
他们15岁就辍学了,几乎未接受过正式的写作训练。

tā mén15 15 suì jiù chuò xué, le , jī hū wèi jiē shòu guò zhèng shì de xiě zuò。

They had left school at fifteen and were quite untutored in writing.

Cultural Notes for 辍

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of stopping something before it is finished can relate to traditional values of perseverance and completion, often emphasized in education and work ethics.

Word Family of 辍

Words Containing This Character6
辍学to drop out of school輟學
chuòto cease
中辍to stop halfway中輟
辍笔to stop writing or painting輟筆
辍演to stop performing a play輟演
辍止to stop輟止
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 辍学 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 辍

You might hear 辍学 (chuòxué), meaning to drop out of school, or 辍车 (chuòchē), meaning to stop a vehicle.