HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #380, Medium
停
tíng
to halt
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #380, Medium
停
tíng
to park (a car)
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #380, Medium
停
tíng
to suspend, to halt, to delay; suitable
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #380, Medium
tíng(ting2)ting T2
1to stop
2to halt
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March 24, 2026
停tíng(ting2)
The character 停 (tíng) means 'to stop' or 'to halt.' It is commonly used in contexts such as stopping a vehicle, pausing an activity, or suspending an event. It conveys a clear action of cessation and can also imply a suitable or appropriate situation.
Strokes11Radical亻Frequency#380DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In daily Chinese life, understanding when to 停 (stop) is crucial, especially in bustling cities with heavy traffic. The concept of stopping at traffic lights or pedestrian crossings is taken seriously, reflecting an emphasis on order and safety.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'Ting' sound that you hear when a vehicle comes to a complete stop. The character 停 features the radical 偏旁 '亻' (person) on the left, suggesting a person stopping or pausing in their activities. Picture someone named 'Ting' who always knows when to halt at the right moment.
Meanings of 停
tíng(ting2)
1to stop
2to halt
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 停
停Simplified
11Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#380Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 停
Podcast: 停
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AI Study Notes for 停
Quick Contrast
停 (tíng) vs 休 (xiū) — use 停 when indicating a complete stop, while 休 suggests a break or rest without necessarily stopping entirely.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of using 停 in both formal and informal contexts; it is versatile but may sound abrupt in sensitive situations. Common collocations include 停车 (tíng chē - to park a car) and 停止 (tíng zhǐ - to cease). Avoid confusing it with 停留 (tíng liú - to stay) which carries a different nuance.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 停 connects well with other action verbs like 走 (zǒu - to walk) and 跑 (pǎo - to run). Focus on practicing its usage in different contexts, especially in transportation and daily activities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 停 with 停留 (tíng liú), which means 'to stay' rather than 'to stop.' For example, saying '我停留在这里' (wǒ tíng liú zài zhè lǐ) incorrectly suggests 'I stop here,' instead of using 停 appropriately.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 停
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Knowing 停 is seven skills, not one.
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停 = 亻 + 亭. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 停
IDS Structure⿰亻亭
停Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
亭ting2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 停?
How to say to stop in Chinese
“to stop” in Chinese is停tíng
The character 停 (tíng) means 'to stop' or 'to halt.' It is commonly used in contexts such as stopping a vehicle, pausing an activity, or suspending an event. It conveys a clear action of cessation and can also imply a suitable or appropriate situation.
When to use 停
Be mindful of using 停 in both formal and informal contexts; it is versatile but may sound abrupt in sensitive situations. Common collocations include 停车 (tíng chē - to park a car) and 停止 (tíng zhǐ - to cease). Avoid confusing it with 停留 (tíng liú - to stay) which carries a different nuance.
停 or something close to it
停 (tíng) vs 休 (xiū) — use 停 when indicating a complete stop, while 休 suggests a break or rest without necessarily stopping entirely.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 停 with 停留 (tíng liú), which means 'to stay' rather than 'to stop.' For example, saying '我停留在这里' (wǒ tíng liú zài zhè lǐ) incorrectly suggests 'I stop here,' instead of using 停 appropriately.
Write 停
停
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Grammar Patterns of 停
停 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 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The road was reduced to 18ft in width by adding parking bays.
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Cultural Notes for 停
💡Did you know?
In Chinese cities, parking can be a challenge due to limited space. The character '停' not only means to stop but also reflects the importance of parking etiquette in urban life.
📜Proverb
A common proverb is '停下来，想一想', which means 'Stop and think'. This emphasizes the value of reflection in decision-making.
Word Family of 停
Words Containing This Character20
停tíngto stop
停止tíngzhǐto stop
停车tíngchēto park停車
不停bùtíngincessant
停下tíngxiàto stop
暂停zàntíngto suspend暫停
停车场tíngchēchǎngparking lot停車場
停留tíngliúto stop over
停电tíngdiànpower cut停電
停产to stop production停產
停下来to stop停下來
停火to cease fire
停靠to call at
停顿tíngdùnto halt停頓
停放tíngfàngto park (a car etc)
停战armistice停戰
停机to shut down停機
停职to suspend (sb) from duties停職
停滞tíngzhìstagnation停滯
停业tíngyèto close down停業
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 停
What does 停止 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 停
While 停 (tíng) means 'to stop' or 'to park,' 休息 (xiū xī) specifically means 'to rest' or 'to take a break.' Use 停 when referring to stopping movement or action and 休息 when you want to convey resting or relaxing.
停 is pronounced as 'tíng' in Mandarin. The tone is the second tone, which is rising. Practicing the pronunciation with the correct tone is important for clear communication in Chinese.
停 (tíng) means 'to stop,' 'to halt,' or 'to park' in Chinese. It is commonly used in various contexts, such as stopping a vehicle or pausing an action. The character emphasizes the action of ceasing movement or activity.
You can use 停 (tíng) in a sentence by saying something like '我停车了' (wǒ tíng chē le), which means 'I parked the car.' It can also be used in phrases like '停下来' (tíng xià lái), meaning 'stop.' Understanding its context is key to using it correctly.
You can say '请停车' (qǐng tíng chē) which means 'Please stop the car.'
No, 停 can be used for any action that involves stopping, such as '停下来' (tíng xià lái - to stop doing something).
停 refers to stopping an action temporarily, while 结束 (jié shù) means to end or finish something completely.
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