止步

zhǐbù

verb HSK 7-9 #14,764

Meanings

1 to halt; to stop walking
2 to go no further (in a competition)

Characters

to stop; to cease

Stop (止) your steps (步) — halt where you are.

Examples

闲人止步！

Xiánrén zhǐbù!

No unauthorized entry! (Literally: idle people stop here)

中国队在半决赛中止步了。

Zhōngguó duì zài bànjuésài zhōngzhǐ bù le.

The Chinese team was eliminated in the semifinals.

Tips

usage

止步 is very common in sports journalism: 止步八强 (eliminated at quarterfinals), 止步半决赛 (knocked out in the semis). On signs, 闲人止步 or 游客止步 mean 'restricted area — no entry.'

Stroke Order

止 zhǐ

步 bù