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休止 (xiū zhǐ) — to stop, to cease

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning 'to cease, to come to a stop' — used in written contexts like announcements or reports, not everyday speech. Often appears in set phrases such as 无休止 ('endless').

verb
to stopto cease

Examples

  • 休止。
    Tā de bào yuàn wú xiū zhǐ dì jì xù zhe.
    His complaints continued endlessly.
  • 休止。
    Tán pàn zàn shí xiū zhǐ le.
    The negotiations temporarily ceased.
  • 休止。
    Huó dòng jiāng zài xià ge yuè xiū zhǐ.
    The activity will cease next month.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

休xiūstop
止zhǐstop

Both 休 and 止 mean stop, so together they emphasize ceasing or a pause.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

休 pairs 人 (man) with 木 (tree), showing a person leaning against a tree to rest.

Open 休 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

止 was drawn as a footprint pointing up, with three toes and a sole, originally showing a foot.

Open 止 →
Appears in
Change & Process

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