The Meaning of chūshi [中止] In Japanese

中止
ちゅうし
Romaji: chūshi N3

What does 中止 mean?

Translation and Meaning

suspension, cessation, cancellation

Definition

What does 中止 mean? It denotes the act of stopping or canceling an event, plan, or ongoing process, resulting in a halt of activity or suspension of operations.

Type

noun (suru-verb)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Formal cancellation or suspension of events, services, contracts, or plans; can be temporary or permanent.
  • Pause or interruption within a process, often due to safety, legal, or logistical reasons.
  • Used in notices and official communications to convey that an activity will not proceed as scheduled.

Composition

  • 中 — middle, center; suggests a point at which action is halted.
  • 止 — to stop, to halt; conveys cessation.
  • Together 中止 expresses stopping or canceling an activity, often at a planned point or altogether.

Usage

Used in formal writing and public notices to indicate cancellation or suspension; commonly appears in announcements, contracts, schedules, and reports. The noun 中止 can be paired with verbs or nouns to specify what is being halted, and the verb form 中止する expresses the action of canceling or suspending.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a meeting proceeding toward a middle point, then a red STOP sign appears—that is 中止: a stop or cancellation at the middle.

Variations

  • 取消 (torikesu) — cancellation
  • 停止 (teishi) — stop, halt
  • 中断 (chuudan) — interruption

Example Phrases

  • 会議は突然中止になった。
    Kaigi wa totsuzen chūshi ni natta.
    The meeting was suddenly canceled.
    Lista:
    • 会議 (kaigi) – meeting
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 突然 (totsuzen) – suddenly
    • 中止 (chūshi) – cancellation
    • に (ni) – to
    • なった (natta) – became
    Uses the noun 「中止」 meaning cancellation; combined with になる to express ‘be canceled’.
中止