The word 停下 is formed by combining the character 停, which means "to stop" or "to halt", with the directional or resultative character 下, which here indicates a downward movement or the idea of settling into a completed state. When joined, the two characters create a compound that visually and conceptually depicts the action of stopping, where 停 provides the core meaning of cessation, and 下 adds the nuance of that action being carried out to completion, as if bringing something to a settled position.