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中断 (zhōng duàn) — to interrupt; to cut short; to discontinue; to break off

Definition

An event or process that is suddenly halted partway (a call, a flight, a connection). Unlike 打断, which focuses on cutting off a person speaking, 中断 describes the activity itself being stopped.

verb
to interruptto cut shortto discontinueto break off

Examples

  • 中断。
    Tā men de tán huà bèi tū rú qí lái de diàn huà zhōng duàn le.
    Their conversation was interrupted by an unexpected phone call.
  • ，中断。
    Yīn wèi bào fēng yǔ, háng bān zhōng duàn le sān gè xiǎo shí.
    The flights were suspended for three hours because of the storm.
  • 中断，。
    Wǎng luò lián jiē tū rán zhōng duàn, wǒ xū yào chóng xīn qǐ dòng lù yóu qì.
    The internet connection suddenly dropped, and I need to restart the router.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

中zhōngmiddle
断duànbreak

中断 joins 中, in the middle or during, with 断, to break, giving a break in the middle.

Characters in this word

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

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & Process

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