Yuka中止、停止、廃止 — all three involve stopping something, but they're very different! Mixing them up can lead to serious misunderstandings, so let's break them down clearly.
ReiThis is one of the most commonly confused sets of kanji words in Japanese. Once you understand the nuances, you'll be able to use all three with confidence.
At a Glance
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 中止 | ちゅうし | Cancellation, calling off | Stopping something before completion — an event, plan, or action |
| 停止 | ていし | Halt, suspension, pause | Stopping temporarily — a machine, traffic, or ongoing process |
| 廃止 | はいし | Abolition, discontinuation | Permanently getting rid of — a law, system, or service |
中止 (ちゅうし) — Cancelling or Calling Off
中止 means to cancel or call off something that was planned or already underway. The kanji 中 (middle/during) + 止 (stop) suggests stopping something in the middle.
It is most often used for events, plans, or ongoing actions that are stopped — usually due to circumstances like bad weather or safety concerns.
- 試合を中止する — cancel a match/game
- 工事を中止する — halt construction
- 計画を中止する — call off a plan
Yuka雨のため運動会を中止します。
The sports day will be cancelled due to rain.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 台風で花火大会が中止になった。 | The fireworks festival was cancelled due to the typhoon. |
| プロジェクトは予算不足で中止された。 | The project was called off due to budget shortfalls. |
| 試験は中止になりましたか？ | Has the exam been cancelled? |
停止 (ていし) — Halting or Pausing
停止 means to stop, halt, or suspend — usually temporarily. It implies the thing could resume. The kanji 停 (to stop/pause) + 止 (stop) emphasizes the halted state.
Common with machines, vehicles, operations, or services:
- 車が停止する — a car comes to a stop
- 機械が停止する — a machine stops/halts
- サービスを一時停止する — temporarily suspend a service
Rei一時停止 (いちじていし) is a very common phrase meaning “temporary suspension” — you'll see it on traffic signs (a stop sign in Japan says 一時停止) and in IT for pausing accounts or services.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 信号で車が停止した。 | The car stopped at the traffic light. |
| システムが停止しています。 | The system is down / halted. |
| 心臓が一時停止した。 | The heart stopped momentarily. |
廃止 (はいし) — Abolishing or Discontinuing Permanently
廃止 means to abolish, discontinue, or scrap permanently. Once something is 廃止-ed, it is gone for good. The kanji 廃 (to discard, ruins) + 止 (stop) makes the permanence clear.
- 制度を廃止する — abolish a system
- 路線を廃止する — discontinue a train line
- 法律を廃止する — repeal a law
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| その税制は廃止された。 | That tax system was abolished. |
| バスの路線が廃止になる。 | The bus route is being discontinued. |
| 死刑制度の廃止を求める声がある。 | There are calls for abolishing the death penalty. |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 中止 | 停止 | 廃止 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanence | Temporary (or permanent if not resumed) | Temporary (can resume) | Permanent |
| Subject | Events, plans, actions | Machines, vehicles, systems, services | Systems, laws, routes, institutions |
| Can restart? | Sometimes | Usually yes | No |
| Example | 試合中止 | 機械停止 | 制度廃止 |
Quick Quiz
Choose 中止、停止、or 廃止:
- その古い法律は今年___された。(That old law was ___ this year.) → 廃止
- 大雨でコンサートが___になった。(The concert was ___ due to heavy rain.) → 中止
- 交差点では一時___してください。(Please come to a full ___ at the intersection.) → 停止
- 赤字が続いてその列車の路線が___された。(Due to continued deficits, that train route was ___.) → 廃止
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