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
N2
空中
kuuchuu
sky, air
N2
立ち止まる
tachidomaru
to stop, to halt, to stand still
N2
中間
chuukan
middle, midway, interim
N2
中世
chuusei
Middle Ages, medieval times
N2
中性
chuusei
neuter gender, neutral
N2
中途
chuuto
in the middle, half-way
N2
中年
chuunen
middle-aged
N2
中指
nakayubi
middle finger
N2
話中
hanashichuu
while talking, the line is busy
Kanji