Meaning and Usage
The verb '멈추다' means 'to stop' or 'to cease moving or doing something.' It is commonly used in everyday conversation to indicate that an action or movement has come to a halt.
Common Contexts
- Physical stopping: vehicles, machines, or people stopping movement.
- Ceasing an activity: stopping work, talking, or any ongoing action.
- Temporary or permanent stopping depending on context.
Collocations and Patterns
- '멈추다 + (action noun)' to indicate stopping an activity, e.g., '일을 멈추다' (stop work).
- '잠시 멈추다' means to stop temporarily.
- '갑자기 멈추다' means to stop suddenly.
Register and Politeness
'멈추다' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When giving commands politely, use '-지 마세요' form, e.g., '멈추지 마세요' (Please don't stop).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '멈추다' with '그만하다' which also means 'to stop' but is more about quitting an activity or habit rather than physical stopping. Use '멈추다' for physical or immediate stopping and '그만하다' for stopping an ongoing behavior or habit.