Word
中止
Meaning in Englishcancellation, suspension, stoppage
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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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
中古
chuuko
used, secondhand
N3
中旬
chuujun
middle third of a month, mid-month period
N3
中心
chuushin
center, core, main point
N3
停止
teishi
stop, suspension, halt
N3
日中
nicchuu
daytime, during the day
N4
中々
nakanaka
quite, considerably, not easily
N4
背中
senaka
back of body
N4
真中
mannaka
middle, center
N4
途中
tochuu
on the way, midway
Kanji