住手
zhùshǒu
The English phrase "stop it" translates to Mandarin as 住手 (zhùshǒu).
住手 is a command used to tell someone to stop a physical action immediately. It is specifically used to command someone to stop an action involving their hands, such as hitting, grabbing or touching something.
What does it mean word for word?
住手 is composed of the verb 住, meaning to stop or stay and 手, meaning hand.
Which one should you use?
While 住手 refers to a physical action, you should use 别说了 if you want someone to stop talking. If you want someone to stop a behavior or an annoying attitude rather than a specific physical movement, 别这样 is more appropriate.
How do you pronounce it?
zhùshǒu
Did you know?
- The character 住 usually means 'to live' or 'to reside' when referring to a house. In the context of 住手, it functions as a resultative complement that indicates the action has come to a complete dead stop.
- If you use 住手 in a restaurant to tell a waiter to stop pouring wine, you might sound like you are treating them as a physical threat.
- While 住手 is common in movies and novels, it sounds overly dramatic or cinematic in daily life. Using it during a minor disagreement might make you sound like a character in a martial arts film.
Examples in context
- 请停手，让我们冷静下来。(Qǐng tíngshǒu, ràng wǒmen lěngjìng xiàlái.)Please stop and let's calm down.
- 别再这样做了，让我好好休息一下吧。(Bié zài zhèyàng zuòle, ràng wǒ hǎohǎo xiūxi yīxià ba.)Stop doing this and let me rest a while, okay?
- 住手！你在做什么？Zhùshǒu! Nǐ zài zuò shénme?Stop it! What are you doing?
- 快住手，别碰那个！Kuài zhùshǒu, bié pèng nàge!Stop it immediately, don't touch that!
- 我说过，快住手。Wǒ shuōguò, kuài zhùshǒu.I told you, stop it.
Example conversation
Zhiqiang sees Xiaowen accidentally breaking a vase.
- 梓涵 Zihan住手！快停下来！Zhùshǒu! Kuài tíng xiàlái!Stop it! Stop right now!
- 浩然 Haoran对不起，我没看到。Duìbuqǐ, wǒ méi kàndào.Sorry, I didn't see it.
- 梓涵 Zihan你差点把它弄碎了。Nǐ chàdiǎn bǎ tā nòng suì le.You almost broke it.
- 浩然 Haoran真的很抱歉，志强。Zhēn de hěn bàoqiàn, Zhìqiáng.I am really sorry, Zhiqiang.
