tíngyè: 停业 - To Cease Business Operations, To Close Down

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

`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)`.

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 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.

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`.

• 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`.