停步 (tíng bù) — to stop (in one's tracks), to come to a standstill

Definition

Literary/formal way to say 'come to a stop (walking or moving forward)', often used figuratively for halting progress. Contrast with 停止, which is broader and covers stopping any activity (talking, working, etc.).

verb
to stop (in one's tracks)to come to a standstill

Examples

  • 停步。
    Tā zǒu dào mén kǒu tū rán tíng bù le.
    He walked to the door and suddenly stopped.
  • 停步。
    Kē xué yán jiū bù néng tíng bù.
    Scientific research cannot come to a standstill.
  • ，停步。
    Miàn duì kùn nan, tā méi yǒu tíng bù.
    Faced with difficulties, he did not stop.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

停tíngstop
步bùstep

“停” means to stop, and “步” is a step, so it means to stop one's steps.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
亭
亭tíng停tíng
Same sound today

The left side 亻 is a person, and the right side 亭 gives the sound tíng; this forms 停.

Open 停 →

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

步 uses two 止 (foot) forms, one reversed, to show one foot stepping in front of the other.

Open 步 →

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