Word
中止
Meaning in Englishcancellation, suspension, stoppage
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
Related sentences
Word context
What it means
What does 中止 mean? It denotes the act of stopping or canceling an event, plan, or ongoing process, resulting in a halt of activity or suspension of operations.
Main meanings
- Formal cancellation or suspension of events, services, contracts, or plans; can be temporary or permanent.
- Pause or interruption within a process, often due to safety, legal, or logistical reasons.
- Used in notices and official communications to convey that an activity will not proceed as scheduled.
How to use it
Used in formal writing and public notices to indicate cancellation or suspension; commonly appears in announcements, contracts, schedules, and reports. The noun 中止 can be paired with verbs or nouns to specify what is being halted, and the verb form 中止する expresses the action of canceling or suspending.
Variants and close terms
- 取消 (torikesu) — cancellation
- 停止 (teishi) — stop, halt
- 中断 (chuudan) — interruption
Composition
- 中 — middle, center; suggests a point at which action is halted.
- 止 — to stop, to halt; conveys cessation.
- Together 中止 expresses stopping or canceling an activity, often at a planned point or altogether.
Word class
noun (suru-verb)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N3
集中
shuuchuu
concentration, focus, centralization
N3
禁止
kinshi
prohibition, ban
N3
最中
saichuu
in the middle of, during
N3
夢中
muchuu
absorbed, crazy about, engrossed
N3
止す
yosu
stop, give up, quit
N3
夜中
yonaka
midnight, middle of the night
N3
世の中
yo no naka
society, the world, social life
N3
中央
chuuou
center, middle, central area
N3
中学
chuugaku
junior high school, middle school
Kanji