Start, Stop & Finish in Chinese 开始和结束
kāishǐ hé jiéshù
Start / stop / finish in Chinese are 开始 / 停止 / 结束 (kāi shǐ / tíng zhǐ / jié shù).
Also searched for as: start, finish, stop, begin end.
How does it begin and end? 15 essential start, stop & finish words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
These verbs describe how things begin, change and come to an end. 开始 (kāi shǐ) means 'to begin' and 结束 (jié shù) 'to end', but the small word 完 (wán) is just as important: added after a verb, it shows you have finished doing something, as in 吃完 (chī wán), 'to finish eating'. With 继续 (jì xù), 'to carry on', and 准备 (zhǔn bèi), 'to get ready', you can describe any process step by step.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 开始 | kāi shǐ | to begin |
| 结束 | jié shù | to end |
| 完 | wán | to finish (after a verb) |
| 完成 | wán chéng | to complete |
| 继续 | jì xù | to continue |
| 停 | tíng | to stop |
| 变 | biàn | to change |
| 变成 | biàn chéng | to turn into |
| 成功 | chéng gōng | success; to succeed |
| 失败 | shī bài | to fail |
| 试 | shì | to try |
| 准备 | zhǔn bèi | to prepare; to get ready |
| 发生 | fā shēng | to happen |
| 错 | cuò | wrong; mistake |
| 改 | gǎi | to change; to correct |
Usage tips
- 结束 (jié shù) is for events and periods, like meetings, films or terms; for finishing an action you're doing, use verb + 完 (wán): 我做完了 (wǒ zuò wán le), 'I'm done'.
- Doubling 试 as 试试 (shì shi) or saying 试一下 (shì yī xià) makes a suggestion friendlier: 你试试这个 (nǐ shì shi zhè ge), 'Have a go at this'.
- 变 (biàn) usually takes an adjective and 了: 天气变冷了 (tiān qì biàn lěng le). Use 变成 (biàn chéng) when something turns into a noun: 水变成了冰 (shuǐ biàn chéng le bīng).
Common mistakes
- Saying 我完成了饭 for 'I've finished my meal': 完成 (wán chéng) is for tasks and projects, like homework or a plan. For food, say 我吃完了 (wǒ chī wán le).
- Telling a person 停说话 for 'stop talking' sounds unnatural. Say 别说了 (bié shuō le) instead; 停 (tíng) suits rain, cars and machines, or 停下来 (tíng xià lái), 'come to a halt'.
- Using 改 (gǎi) and 变 (biàn) interchangeably: 改 is a deliberate correction or alteration, as in 改作业 (gǎi zuò yè), 'mark homework', while 变 is a change that simply happens, like the weather.
Mini dialogue
- A会议几点结束？Huì yì jǐ diǎn jié shù?What time does the meeting finish?
- B四点。你的报告准备好了吗？Sì diǎn. Nǐ de bào gào zhǔn bèi hǎo le ma?Four. Is your report ready?
- A还没写完，我得改一下。Hái méi xiě wán, wǒ děi gǎi yī xià.I haven't finished writing it yet. I need to make a few changes.
- B别担心，你一定会成功的！Bié dān xīn, nǐ yī dìng huì chéng gōng de!Don't worry, I'm sure it'll go well!
Example sentences
- 电影七点开始。The film starts at seven.
- 会议几点结束？What time does the meeting end?
- 我看完这本书了。I've finished reading this book.
- 我完成了作业。I've completed my homework.
- 休息一下，然后继续。Take a break, then carry on.
- 雨停了。The rain has stopped.
- 天气变冷了。The weather has turned cold.
- 水变成了冰。The water turned into ice.
- 祝你成功！I wish you success!
- 失败了也没关系。It's OK if you fail.
- 你试试这个。Try this.
- 我准备好了。I'm ready.
- 发生了什么事？What happened?
- 对不起，我写错了。Sorry, I wrote it wrong.
- 老师帮我改作文。The teacher corrects my essays.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Start, stop & finish speaking island has 8 everyday questions about start, stop & finish to prepare your own answers to.