<p>停住 is often used for <strong>tangible objects</strong>, 停止 for <strong>intangible ones</strong>. For example, 停止进攻（进攻 is intangible）， 把车停住（车 is tangible）; </p>

<p>There could be some exceptions, but that rule could work most of time. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-08T08:35:58.297Z
2019-03-08T08:35:58.297Z
dan
<p>Both 停 and 止 contains the meaning of 'to stop'. </p>

<ul>
<li><p>"停止" is a compound word verb for 'to stop' </p></li>
<li><p>"停住" = "to stop (successfully/ and keep it this way). It is made up of the verb '停' and it's <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement" rel="nofollow noreferrer">result complement</a> '住' (住 as a result complement denotes: 1. successfully; 2. in a continuous state)</p></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p>停止 is usually used as an intransitive verb or auxiliary verb</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Example :</p>

<p>(intransitive verb): 操作停止 (operation stops); 任务停止 (mission stops)</p>

<p>(auxiliary verb): 停止攻擊 (stop attacking); 停止操作 (stop operating)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"停住" can be use transitive or intransitive</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Example :</p>

<p>(transitive verb): 他停住車子 (he stops the car)</p>

<p>(intransitive verb) 車子停住了 (the car stops)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-08T06:22:12.750Z
2019-03-08T06:22:12.750Z
Tang Ho
<p>停住 is often used as a command in language similar to:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>stop!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>or</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>halt!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Like you might hear from a policeman or a person of authority.</p>

<hr>

<p><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_result_complements#.E4.BD.8F_as_Result_Complement" rel="nofollow noreferrer">住</a> as a grammar point has two functions:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>住 can be used after a verb to express a "coming to a halt." These verbs are limited. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>for instance:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>抓住那个小偷！<br>
  Catch that thief!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>and</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>住 can also be used to express "undertaking an action firmly" or "tightly." </p>
</blockquote>

<p>like:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你必须抓住机会。<br>
  You must seize the opportunity tightly.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So, the emphasis of 住 in 停住 is again: halt.</p>

<hr>

<p>停止 is used as a verb more akin to: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>to stop </p>
</blockquote>

<p>or </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>to cease </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Here's an example from <a href="https://www.91dub.com/search/%E5%81%9C%E6%AD%A2?type=search" rel="nofollow noreferrer">91dub</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The murders stopped. The disappearances stopped.<br>
  杀人事件停止了 失踪事件也停止了</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-08T05:56:41.600Z
2019-03-08T06:03:01.167Z
2019-03-08T06:03:01.167Z
Mou某
<p>I am quite confused with the usage of both words as the some of the meaning is overlapping based in English translations. The dictionary shows that 停止 = stop, cease, halt while for 停住 = stop, halt. So what situation do you guys use 停止 and 停住? </p>

<meaning><usage>
停止 vs. 停住 usage/difference?
# 停止 vs. 停住 usage/difference?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-08)

I am quite confused with the usage of both words as the some of the meaning is overlapping based in English translations. The dictionary shows that 停止 = stop, cease, halt while for 停住 = stop, halt. So what situation do you guys use 停止 and 停住?

**Tags:** meaning, usage

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-08. Score: 1

停住 is often used for **tangible objects**, 停止 for **intangible ones**. For example, 停止进攻（进攻 is intangible）， 把车停住（车 is tangible）;

There could be some exceptions, but that rule could work most of time.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-03-08. Score: 1

Both 停 and 止 contains the meaning of 'to stop'.

* "停止" is a compound word verb for 'to stop'
* "停住" = "to stop (successfully/ and keep it this way). It is made up of the verb '停' and it's [result complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement) '住' (住 as a result complement denotes: 1. successfully; 2. in a continuous state)

> 停止 is usually used as an intransitive verb or auxiliary verb

Example :

(intransitive verb): 操作停止 (operation stops); 任务停止 (mission stops)

(auxiliary verb): 停止攻擊 (stop attacking); 停止操作 (stop operating)

> "停住" can be use transitive or intransitive

Example :

(transitive verb): 他停住車子 (he stops the car)

(intransitive verb) 車子停住了 (the car stops)


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-03-08. Score: 0

停住 is often used as a command in language similar to:

> stop!

or

> halt!

Like you might hear from a policeman or a person of authority.

---

[住](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_result_complements#.E4.BD.8F_as_Result_Complement) as a grammar point has two functions:

> 住 can be used after a verb to express a "coming to a halt." These verbs are limited.

for instance:

> 抓住那个小偷！  
> Catch that thief!

and

> 住 can also be used to express "undertaking an action firmly" or "tightly."

like:

> 你必须抓住机会。  
> You must seize the opportunity tightly.

So, the emphasis of 住 in 停住 is again: halt.

---

停止 is used as a verb more akin to:

> to stop

or

> to cease

Here's an example from [91dub](https://www.91dub.com/search/%E5%81%9C%E6%AD%A2?type=search):

> The murders stopped. The disappearances stopped.  
> 杀人事件停止了 失踪事件也停止了


---

