Chinese word

停顿

Pronunciation

Pinyintíng dùn

Meaning

  • nounpause

Example

音乐中有短暂的停顿，然后继续。yīn yuè zhōng yǒu duǎn zàn de tíng dùn rán hòu jì xù

There is a brief pause in the music, and then it continues.

Illustration for 停顿 (pause)

More examples

他说话时有一段停顿，像是在思考。tā shuō huà shí yǒu yí duàn tíng dùn xiàng shì zài sī kǎo

There was a pause in his speech, as if he were thinking.

Core concept

A brief break in the flow of movement, sound, or speech.

Common phrases

  • 短暂的停顿duǎn zàn de tíng dùn

    brief pause

  • 突然的停顿tū rán de tíng dùn

    sudden pause

  • 出现停顿chū xiàn tíng dùn

    a pause occurs

Similar words

暂停zàn tíng: A temporary stop to an activity, process, or machine before it resumes.
中断zhōng duàn: A break that cuts off an activity or process while it is underway.
间歇jiàn xiē: A short break that recurs between periods of activity or change.

Definition in Chinese

短时间停止动作、声音或言语的状态或那段时间duǎn shí jiān tíng zhǐ dòng zuò shēng yīn huò yán yǔ de zhuàng tài huò nà duàn shí jiān

Word origin

停顿 (tíngdùn, "pause") combines 停 (tíng, "stop") with 顿 (dùn, "a short stop"), creating the idea of a temporary break in an ongoing flow.

Usage tips

  • English hesitation often suggests uncertainty, but this word can describe a neutral break for breathing, thinking, rhythm, or emphasis.

Other meanings

  • pause brieflyverb

Word lists with this word