止

zhǐ

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

zhǐ (verb) to stop; to halt

zhǐ (adverb) until; only

Etymology

Pictograph of a foot. The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "stop".

About

Originally a pictograph of a human foot showing the toes and sole, 止 first represented a footprint or standing still. Its meaning shifted from the anatomical foot to the action of stopping, halting, or ceasing. Now an independent word meaning "stop" or "prohibit", it also serves as a radical in characters associated with foot movement, walking, or physical boundaries.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

比赛停止了。

Bǐsài tíngzhǐle.

The game stopped.

这里禁止吸烟。

Zhèlǐ jìnzhǐ xīyān.

Smoking is prohibited here.

他止住了哭声。

Tā zhǐzhùle kūshēng.

He stopped crying.

疼痛逐渐止住了。

Téngtòng zhújiàn zhǐzhùle.

The pain gradually stopped.

学习永无止境。

Xuéxí yǒng wú zhǐjìng.

Learning never ends.

他的行为止于礼貌。

Tā de xíngwéi zhǐ yú lǐmào.

His behavior stops at politeness.

政府必须制止犯罪。

Zhèngfǔ bìxū zhìzhǐ fànzuì.

The government must curb crime.

这种药能有效止咳。

Zhè zhǒng yào néng yǒuxiào zhǐké.

This medicine can effectively relieve cough.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 止

Example Words