Definition
停滞 means 'to stagnate' or 'to be at a standstill' — it describes a process (development, economy, negotiations) that has stopped making progress. Unlike 停顿 (a temporary pause that may resume) or 耽搁 (a delay caused by circumstances), 停滞 implies a longer, more problematic halt with no clear end in sight. 滞留 is about a person being stranded or a substance lingering, not a process.
verb
to stagnateto be at a standstillto bog down
Easily confused
- 停止tíng zhǐsound-aliketo stop; to halt; to cease
Examples
- 停滞。Zhège chéngshì de fāzhǎn yǐjīng tíng zhì le.The development of this city has stagnated.
- ，。Xiàngmù tíng zhì bù qián, wǒmen xūyào xīn de fāng'àn.The project is at a standstill; we need a new plan.
- 停滞，。Tánpàn tíng zhì le sān gè yuè, zhōngyú yǒu le jìnzhǎn.The negotiations stalled for three months and finally made progress.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.