请停下
qǐng tíng xià
The English phrase "stop, please" is translated into Chinese as 请停下 (qǐng tíng xià).
请停下 is used when requesting someone to cease a physical movement or a continuous action, such as walking or speaking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 请 (please), 停 (to stop) and 下 (a directional complement indicating the completion or cessation of an action).
Which one should you use?
While 请停下 is a polite request, using just 停 or 停下 sounds like a blunt command.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 停 (tíng) is a verb that can be used alone, but adding the complement 下 (xià) makes the command feel more complete and natural in spoken Chinese.
How do you pronounce it?
qǐng tíng xià
Did you know?
- In high-tension arguments, Chinese speakers might use the phrase 住口 instead of 请停下 to tell someone to stop talking, which is an aggressive way to say 'shut your mouth'.
- If you want someone to stop a behavior rather than a movement, you might hear 够了, which literally means 'enough'.
- The complement 下 (xià) in 停下 literally means 'down', implying that the movement is 'dropping' or settling into a state of stillness.
Examples in context
- 请停一下，拜托。Please stop for a moment, please.
- 请停下，谢谢。Please stop, thank you.
- 请停下，这样太危险了。Qǐng tíng xià, zhèyàng tài wēixiǎn le.Please stop, this is too dangerous.
- 请停下脚步，我在等你。Qǐng tíng xià jiǎobù, wǒ zài děng nǐ.Please stop walking, I am waiting for you.
Example conversation
The two people are in a taxi.
- 浩然 Haoran师傅，请停下在前面。Shīfu, qǐng tíngxià zài qiánmiàn.Driver, please stop up ahead.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好的，这就停。Hǎo de, zhè jiù tíng.Okay, stopping now.
- 浩然 Haoran晓雯，我们到了。Xiǎowén, wǒmen dàole.Xiaowen, we have arrived.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen谢谢，我准备下车。Xièxie, wǒ zhǔnbèi xiàchē.Thanks, I am getting out.
