Definition

Verb: 1. To stop; to cease; to halt: To bring an action, process, or movement to an end. It indicates a pause or a complete discontinuation. 2. To draw up; to pull over (for vehicles): To bring a vehicle to a halt, typically at the side of a road or a specific point.

Usage

• The verb ngừng is used to indicate the cessation of an activity, process, or motion. It is often followed by another verb or a noun.
• It can be used both transitively (e.g., - to stop a task) and intransitively (e.g., - the machine stops).
• For vehicles, ngừng specifically means to stop briefly, often to let passengers on/off or to wait, similar to "to pull over."

Examples

1. As "to stop/cease":
   • Cô ấy ngừng nói khi giáo viên bước vào. (She stopped talking when the teacher walked in.)
   • Nhà máy đã ngừng sản xuất vì sự cố kỹ thuật. (The factory ceased production due to a technical issue.)
   • Mưa đã ngừng rồi. (The rain has stopped.)
2. As "to draw up/pull over" (for vehicles):
   • Tài xế ngừng xe buýt ở trạm tiếp theo. (The driver pulled the bus over at the next stop.)
   • Anh ấy ngừng taxi trước cửa khách sạn. (He had the taxi draw up in front of the hotel.)

Advanced Usage

• Ngừng lại: This is a common compound where lại adds emphasis to the act of stopping, often implying a pause or a temporary halt. It translates to "to stop (oneself)," "to pause," or "to come to a stop."
  • Đang chạy, anh ta bỗng ngừng lại. (While running, he suddenly stopped.)
  • Hãy ngừng lại một chút để suy nghĩ. (Let's pause for a moment to think.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngưng (verb): A close synonym, often used interchangeably with ngừng, especially for processes or activities (e.g., - to suspend operations). Ngưng can sometimes sound slightly more formal or technical.
• Dừng (verb): Another common synonym meaning "to stop" or "to halt." Dừng is very frequently used for vehicles (e.g., - to stop a vehicle) and can imply a temporary stop. The difference from ngừng is often subtle and contextual.
• Tạm ngừng (verb phrase): To temporarily stop; to suspend.
  • Cuộc họp được tạm ngừng 15 phút. (The meeting was temporarily suspended for 15 minutes.)
• Ngừng hoạt động (verb phrase): To cease operations; to be out of service.
• Điểm ngừng (noun): A stop (e.g., bus stop).

Synonyms

• Dừng lại: To stop, to halt.
• Ngưng lại: To cease, to discontinue.
• Chấm dứt: To end, to terminate (stronger, more final).
• Đình chỉ: To suspend, to halt (often official or disciplinary).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Ngừng chân: To stop one's journey for a rest; to take a break while traveling.
  • Chúng tôi ngừng chân tại một quán nước nhỏ. (We stopped to rest at a small roadside drink stall.)
• Không ngừng nghỉ: Unceasingly; without stopping.
  • Cô ấy làm việc không ngừng nghỉ. (She works unceasingly.)

verb

1. to stop; to draw up