zung1 zi2中止
Jyutpingzung1 zi2
Yalejūng jí
Definition
To stop or discontinue; to suspend an ongoing activity.
neutralworkother
How it's used
Formal contexts often favor this term when referring to legal agreements, negotiations, or official projects. It implies a deliberate decision to halt a process before its natural conclusion, rather than just a casual pause or a simple stop. While it sounds professional, it is perfectly acceptable in everyday business discussions.
Examples
They decided to discontinue this project.
Why do you have to terminate the contract suddenly?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this for physical movement or casual daily activities, where 停 or 停低 is much more natural. Using 中止 for something like stopping a car or stopping a conversation mid-sentence sounds overly stiff and unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
