中断(ちゅうだん)

中断(ちゅうだん) means stopping something temporarily before it is finished, with the implication that it may be resumed later.

Forms

中(ちゅう) (middle) + 断(だん) (cut off). Literally 'cutting off in the middle.'

Common patterns

• 中断(ちゅうだん)する: to interrupt, to suspend
• 中断(ちゅうだん)される: to be interrupted
• 中断(ちゅうだん)なく: without interruption
• 中断(ちゅうだん)を余儀(よぎ)なくされる: to be forced to suspend

Similar words

• 中止(ちゅうし): cancellation (more final; often means not resuming)
• 休止(きゅうし): pause, suspension (more formal; planned break)
• 一時停止(いちじていし): temporary pause (brief, often mechanical)
• 中断(ちゅうだん): interruption (unplanned, with expectation of resuming)
• 再開(さいかい): resumption