Definition
止住 is a verb-complement compound: 止 (to stop) + 住 (resultative complement meaning 'firmly, to a halt'). It means 'to stop something from continuing' — usually a physical or emotional flow (tears, bleeding, coughing) or an action. You can insert 得/不 between the two syllables to form the potential complement: 止得住 (can stop) / 止不住 (cannot stop). This pattern is common with resultative verbs.
r.v.
to stopto haltto bring to a stop
Examples
- 止住，。Tā nǔlì zhǐ zhù yǎnlèi, dàn háishì kū le.He tried to hold back his tears but still cried.
- 止住，。Zhè zhǒng yào néng zhǐ zhù késou, xiàoguǒ hěn hǎo.This medicine can stop coughing, and it works very well.
- ，止住。Wǒ quàn le tā bàntiān, gēnběn zhǐ zhù bú zhù tā fāhuǒ.I tried to persuade him for a long time, but I couldn't stop him from losing his temper at all.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.