为止 meaning in English
until; (used in combination with words like 到[dao4] or 至[zhi4] in constructs of the form 到...為止|到...为止)
Meaning of 为止
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- until
- (used in combination with words like 到[dao4] or 至[zhi4] in constructs of the form 到...為止|到...为止)
How to use 为止
为止 closes a time or extent phrase, almost always in the pattern 到...为止 or 至...为止, and it usually comes at the start of a sentence. Example: 到目前为止，一切都很顺利。(Dào mùqián wéizhǐ, yīqiè dōu hěn shùnlì.) So far, everything has gone smoothly.
为 (wéi) here means "to act as" and 止 (zhǐ) means "to stop." So 为止 is the point that acts as the stop: you go up to there and halt.
Common mistake: Learners often read 为 here as wèi, as in 为什么 (wèi shénme), but in 为止 it is second tone, wéi, like 认为 (rènwéi). Another trap is using 为止 alone without 到 or 至 in front, which sounds incomplete.
为止 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
为 wèi · because of · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
止 zhǐ · to stop · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 为止.
| 为什么 | wèi shénme | why?; for what reason? |
| 因为 | yīnwèi | because; owing to; on account of |
| 认为 | rènwéi | to believe; to think; to consider; to feel |
| 以为 | yǐwéi | to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless refe |
| 成为 | chéngwéi | to become; to turn into |
| 行为 | xíngwéi | action; conduct; behavior; activity |
| 为了 | wèile | for; for the purpose of; in order to |
| 停止 | tíngzhǐ | to stop; to halt; to cease |
| 称为 | chēngwéi | to be called; to be known as; to call it "..." |
| 防止 | fángzhǐ | to prevent; to guard against |
| 变为 | biànwéi | to change into |
| 作为 | zuòwéi | one's conduct; deed |
Questions about 为止
What does 为止 mean?
为止 (wéizhǐ) means "until; (used in combination with words like 到[dao4] or 至[zhi4] in constructs of the form 到...為止|到...为止)" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 为止?
为止 is made of 2 characters: 为 (4 strokes), 止 (4 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 为止 an HSK word?
Yes. 为止 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 为止 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 为止 is written 為止.
What is the difference between 到...为止 and 直到?
到...为止 marks an endpoint and often means "up to now" or "up to that point," as in 到今天为止 (up to today). 直到 (zhídào) means "until" and usually introduces the moment something changes, as in 直到昨天我才知道 (I didn't know until yesterday).
Can 为止 be used for things other than time?
Yes. It can mark a point in a process or an amount, for example 学到第五课为止 (study up to lesson five) or 练到会为止 (practice until you can do it).