dừng bút
Definitions
- Verb Phrase:
- To stop writing; to put down one's pen/brush: The literal meaning is to cease the physical act of writing or drawing. It implies a deliberate pause or conclusion in the act of writing.
- To finish a piece of writing; to conclude (a literary work): A figurative and formal meaning, used to indicate the completion of a written work, such as an article, letter, book, or poem. It often carries a sense of finality and is used in formal or literary contexts.
Usage Examples
- Literal meaning (to stop writing):
- Anh ấy mệt quá nên đã dừng bút nghỉ ngơi. (He was too tired, so he stopped writing to rest.)
- Cô giáo bảo: "Các em dừng bút lại, hết giờ rồi." (The teacher said, "Stop writing, students. Time's up.")
- Figurative meaning (to conclude a work):
- Nhà văn đã dừng bút tại trang cuối cùng của cuốn tiểu thuyết. (The writer put down his pen on the final page of the novel.)
- Tôi xin dừng bút tại đây và chúc bạn một ngày tốt lành. (I will conclude my writing here and wish you a good day.)
Advanced Usage
- "dừng bút tại...": to conclude (writing) at/on... This structure specifies the point of conclusion.
- Tác giả dừng bút tại dòng thơ đầy cảm xúc. (The author concluded with an emotional line of poetry.)
- Used in formal correspondence or literary pieces to signal the end. It is more elegant and literary than simply saying (to end).
Variants and Related Words
- Ngừng bút: A near-synonym, also meaning to stop writing. The nuance is very similar, though is slightly more common in formal concluding contexts.
- Hạ bút: A more literary and classical synonym, meaning to put down the brush/pen, often used for the act of writing or signing something significant.
- Nhà văn đã hạ bút ký tặng độc giả. (The writer put pen to paper to sign for a reader.)
Synonyms
- Kết thúc (bài viết/thư): to finish/conclude (an article/letter). (More general, less literary)
- Chấm dứt (việc viết): to cease/terminate (the act of writing). (Stronger, more final)
Related Idioms
- Dừng chân: to stop one's journey; to take a rest. (Analogical idiom using [to stop] + [foot/step] instead of [pen]).
- Chúng tôi dừng chân tại một quán nước ven đường. (We stopped at a roadside drink stall.)