Meaning
停下 is a common verb meaning to stop or halt an action or movement. It combines 停 (to stop) with the directional complement 下 (down), emphasizing the completion of stopping. This word is used for both physical stopping (like vehicles or people) and ceasing activities.
Usage
停下 is frequently used in everyday speech to tell someone or something to stop moving or to describe stopping an ongoing action. It's often followed by 来 (tíng xià lái) to emphasize coming to a complete stop. Common in both spoken and written contexts, it's neutral in register and appropriate for all situations.
Examples
- 01请你停下，我有话要跟你说。, .Please stop, I have something to tell you.
- 02车子突然停下了，原来是没油了。, .The car suddenly stopped; it turns out it ran out of gas.
Characters
Common collocations
- 停下来to stop (and settle)
- 停下脚步to stop one's steps
- 停下手中的工作to stop the work in one's hands
Antonyms
Origin
The character 停 originally depicted a person standing still, while 下 as a directional complement adds the sense of settling down or coming to rest, creating the meaning of coming to a complete stop.