Meaning and Usage
"中断" (ちゅうだん) means interruption, suspension, or a temporary break in an activity or process. It is often used in formal or technical contexts such as meetings, work tasks, communication, or broadcasts.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "中断" used when something is stopped temporarily due to an unexpected event (like a power outage or communication failure) or intentionally paused (like taking a break during work).
Collocations and Patterns
- 中断する: to interrupt or suspend something
- 中断される: to be interrupted
- 作業を中断する: to suspend work
- 通信が中断する: communication is interrupted
Register and Nuance
"中断" is a formal noun and is often used in business, technical, or official situations. It is less common in casual conversation where simpler words like "休む" (to rest) or "止める" (to stop) might be used.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "中断" with "停止" (ていし), which also means stop or halt. "中断" implies a temporary pause with the intention to resume, while "停止" often means a complete stop without immediate resumption.