====== tíngyè: 停业 - To Cease Business Operations, To Close Down ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** tingye, 停业, cease business, stop business, close down, temporary closure, business closure, Chinese business terms, what does tingye mean, 停业 vs 关门, closed for business in Chinese.
  * **Summary:** The Chinese term **停业 (tíngyè)** means to cease or suspend business operations. It's a formal word you'll often see on official notices or signs on a shop's door, indicating it is closed for a period longer than just overnight. This closure could be temporary for reasons like renovations or holidays, or it could be permanent, meaning the business has shut down for good. Understanding **停业 (tíngyè)** is key to interpreting the status of businesses in China.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** tíngyè
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To stop or suspend business activities.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of `停业` as the official "pause" or "stop" button for a business. It's more significant than just closing for the night (`关门 guānmén`). When you see a sign with `停业` on a restaurant or shop, it means they won't be open for at least a full day, and possibly much longer. The reason could be anything from a holiday and renovations to financial trouble or a government order.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **停 (tíng):** This character means "to stop." You can picture it as a person (人) standing next to a pavilion (亭), a place to stop and rest. It’s the same "tíng" used in `停车场 (tíngchēchǎng)`, or "parking lot."
  * **业 (yè):** This character means "business," "industry," or "occupation." It's a core component of words related to work and commerce, like `商业 (shāngyè)` (commerce) and `毕业 (bìyè)` (to graduate, literally "finish one's studies/occupation").
  * When combined, **停业 (tíngyè)** literally translates to "stop business," a clear and direct meaning that is easy to remember.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
`停业` is more than just a word; it reflects specific rhythms and realities of Chinese commercial life.
A key cultural event associated with `停业` is the **Spring Festival (春节 chūnjié)**, or Chinese New Year. In the West, a business might close for Christmas Day, but in China, it's common for small, family-run businesses to `停业` for a week, two weeks, or even a month. This allows owners and employees to travel back to their hometowns for the most important family reunion of the year. Seeing `停业` signs proliferate before the New Year is a sure sign the holiday is approaching.
Compared to the Western concept of "Closed for business," `停业` carries a slightly more formal and often more serious weight. A handwritten "Be back in 5" sign is not `停业`. `停业` is for planned, significant breaks (renovations, holidays) or unplanned, serious events (health inspection failure, bankruptcy). When the government forces a business to close for rectification (`停业整顿 tíngyè zhěngdùn`), it's a public matter that can impact the business's reputation or `面子 (miànzi)`.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
You will most often encounter `停业` in written form, especially on official notices.
  * **On Signs and Notices:** This is the most common usage. A red paper sign taped to the door of a shop will often state the reason and duration of the closure.
    * e.g., "本店因装修，**停业**三天。" (Our shop is closed for three days due to renovations.)
  * **In Official Announcements:** Companies may issue formal statements announcing a suspension of operations at a specific branch or for a particular service.
  * **In News and Formal Reports:** News articles often use `停业` to report on businesses being shut down by authorities or closing due to economic conditions.
  * **Formality:** `停业` is a formal and written-centric term. In casual conversation, while perfectly correct, it's more common for people to use the more colloquial `关门了 (guānmén le)`, which literally means "the doors are closed."
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 春节期间，本店从一月二十号**停业**到二月五号。
    * Pinyin: Chūnjié qījiān, běndiàn cóng yī yuè èrshí hào **tíngyè** dào èr yuè wǔ hào.
    * English: During the Spring Festival period, our shop will be closed from January 20th to February 5th.
    * Analysis: A very common and practical example seen on shop doors all over China before the new year.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 很抱歉，因为内部装修，我们暂时**停业**。
    * Pinyin: Hěn bàoqiàn, yīnwèi nèibù zhuāngxiū, wǒmen zànshí **tíngyè**.
    * English: We're sorry, we are temporarily closed for interior renovations.
    * Analysis: `暂时 (zànshí)` meaning "temporarily" is often paired with `停业` to reassure customers that the closure is not permanent.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 这家餐厅因为卫生问题被要求**停业**整顿。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng yīnwèi wèishēng wèntí bèi yāoqiú **tíngyè** zhěngdùn.
    * English: This restaurant was required to suspend operations for rectification due to hygiene problems.
    * Analysis: This shows the official, compulsory nature of `停业`. The phrase `停业整顿` is a fixed collocation for a forced shutdown to fix problems.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 我最喜欢的书店上个月**停业**了，真可惜。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de shūdiàn shàng gè yuè **tíngyè** le, zhēn kěxī.
    * English: My favorite bookstore went out of business last month, what a pity.
    * Analysis: Here, the context implies a permanent closure. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a completed action or change of state.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 如果台风来了，所有商店都要**停业**。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ táifēng lái le, suǒyǒu shāngdiàn dōu yào **tíngyè**.
    * English: If the typhoon comes, all shops must cease operations.
    * Analysis: This sentence demonstrates `停业` used for safety precautions during an emergency.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 经济不景气，导致很多公司不得不选择**停业**。
    * Pinyin: Jīngjì bù jǐngqì, dǎozhì hěnduō gōngsī bùdébù xuǎnzé **tíngyè**.
    * English: The economic recession has caused many companies to have no choice but to close down.
    * Analysis: This illustrates the use of `停业` in a broader economic context.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 告示上写着“**停业**三天，盘点库存”。
    * Pinyin: Gàoshì shàng xiězhe “**tíngyè** sān tiān, pándiǎn kùcún”.
    * English: The notice says, "Closed for three days for inventory check."
    * Analysis: `盘点库存 (pándiǎn kùcún)` is another common, specific reason for a temporary `停业`.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他父亲的工厂在十年前就**停业**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā fùqīn de gōngchǎng zài shí nián qián jiù **tíngyè** le.
    * English: His father's factory ceased operations ten years ago.
    * Analysis: Using `停业` to talk about a business that closed in the distant past.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 由于供电问题，整个商场将**停业**一天。
    * Pinyin: Yóuyú gōngdiàn wèntí, zhěnggè shāngchǎng jiāng **tíngyè** yī tiān.
    * English: Due to a power supply issue, the entire mall will suspend operations for one day.
    * Analysis: Shows how `停业` can apply to a large entity like a shopping mall.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 我们什么时候恢复营业？还是继续**停业**？
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen shénme shíhòu huīfù yíngyè? Háishì jìxù **tíngyè**?
    * English: When will we resume business? Or should we remain closed?
    * Analysis: This question contrasts `停业` with its direct antonym, `恢复营业 (huīfù yíngyè)` - to resume business.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **`停业 (tíngyè)`** and **`关门 (guānmén)`**.
  * **`停业 (tíngyè)`:** To suspend business operations for a significant period (at least one full day). It's a formal status change for the business.
  * **`关门 (guānmén)`:** Literally "to close the door." It most often means closing up for the night at the end of a business day. It can also be used //colloquially// to mean "go out of business," but `停业` (or `倒闭`) is more formal and precise for that meaning.
**Common Mistake:**
  * **Incorrect:** `银行下午五点停业。(Yínháng xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn tíngyè.)`
  * **Why it's wrong:** This implies the bank is permanently or temporarily shutting down its entire operation at 5 PM. It's just closing for the day.
  * **Correct:** `银行下午五点关门。(Yínháng xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn guānmén.)` (The bank closes at 5 PM.)
Think of it this way: Every open business will `关门` at the end of the day, but only some businesses will `停业`.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[开业]] (kāiyè) - To open a business; the grand opening. (Antonym)
  * [[营业]] (yíngyè) - To be in business; to be open for business. (Antonym)
  * [[关门]] (guānmén) - To close the door (for the day); a more colloquial term for going out of business.
  * [[倒闭]] (dǎobì) - To go bankrupt; to close down permanently due to failure. This is stronger and more negative than `停业`.
  * [[歇业]] (xiēyè) - To take a break from business. Very similar to `停业`, but can carry a stronger connotation of "taking a rest."
  * [[停业整顿]] (tíngyè zhěngdùn) - A set phrase meaning "to suspend business for rectification/reorganization," usually by order of an authority.
  * [[装修]] (zhuāngxiū) - To renovate; a very common reason for a temporary `停业`.
  * [[执照]] (zhízhào) - A license (e.g., a business license). The revocation of a `执照` would force a business to `停业`.