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静止 (jìng zhǐ) — to be still, to be motionless, to be static

Definition

A verb meaning 'to be still / motionless', focusing on the absence of movement. Unlike 静 (an adjective describing a calm, quiet state), 静止 emphasizes that something has stopped moving.

verb
to be stillto be motionlessto be static

Examples

  • ，静止。
    Fēng tíng le, shù yè jìng zhǐ le.
    The wind stopped, and the leaves became still.
  • ，静止。
    Zài tài kōng zhōng, yí qiè wù tǐ dōu jìng zhǐ bú dòng.
    In space, all objects are still and motionless.
  • 静止。
    Tā yāo qiú mó tè jìng zhǐ bú dòng.
    He asked the model to remain still.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

静jìngstill
止zhǐstopped

静, still, and 止, stopped, together mean motionless.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 靜; 静 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 靜, not the simplified 静, uses 青 and 爭 for sound; an old source also treats 青 (blue) as a meaning part.

Open 静 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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