住 (zhù) vs 下 (xià): fixing in place vs settling down
住 and 下 are both resultative complements that follow verbs, but they convey different final states. 住 indicates that something is held, stopped, or fixed in position, while 下 indicates that something is brought downward, recorded, or settled into a final state. Choose 住 for “hold still/stop” and 下 for “down/record”.
Both 住 and 下 can follow verbs to indicate the result of an action. 住 stresses that something becomes fixed or stationary: 停住 (come to a stop, not moving), 抓住 (catch and hold). 下 stresses the completion of a downward motion or the securing of something: 停下 (stop moving, often temporarily), 记下 (write down). While they can sometimes both follow the same verb (e.g., 停), the nuance differs: 住 implies a lasting state of fixation, while 下 implies a completed action that may be temporary or procedural.
When to use each
Use 住 to indicate that the subject or object is held, fixed, or stopped in place, preventing movement or change. Common with verbs like 停 (stop), 抓 (grab), 记 (remember), 守 (guard).
住 often implies a lasting or permanent state of fixation, such as 记住 (remember permanently) vs 记下 (note down).
Use 下 to indicate a downward motion or the result of securing or recording something. Common with verbs like 停 (stop), 记 (record), 放 (put down), 拿 (take).
下 can imply a temporary or procedural completion, such as 停下 (stop for now) vs 停住 (dead stop).
At a glance
| 住 | 下 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Fixation / hold still | Downward motion / settle |
| Common collocation with 停 | 停住 – come to a full stop (dead stop) | 停下 – stop pulling over / stop temporarily |
| Common collocation with 记 | 记住 – remember (fix in mind) | 记下 – write down / take note |
| Negation | 不住 indicates failure to hold/stop (e.g., 停不住 can't stop) | 不下 indicates failure to settle/record (e.g., 记不下 can't write down all) |
| Temporality | Often implies a lasting state | Often implies a completed action |
Examples
- 住车突然停住了。Chē tūrán tíngzhù le.The car stopped suddenly.停住 emphasizes the car became completely stationary.
- 下司机在路边停下了车。Sījī zài lùbiān tíngxià le chē.The driver pulled the car over by the roadside.停下 emphasizes the action of stopping and settling.
- 住请记住这个号码。Qǐng jìzhù zhège hàomǎ.Please remember this number.记住 means to commit to memory.
- 下请记下这个号码。Qǐng jìxià zhège hàomǎ.Please write down this number.记下 means to record in writing.
- 住他抓住了我的手。Tā zhuāzhù le wǒ de shǒu.He grabbed my hand (and held it).
- 下他们拿下了那座山。Tāmen náxià le nà zuò shān.They captured that mountain.
Common mistakes
- Using 住 after 放 to mean 'put down and hold' (放住 is not standard). Use 放着 or 放下来 instead.
- Using 下 for 'remember' in the sense of memorizing; that requires 记住.
- Using 住 after 拿 to mean 'take down' (拿住 means 'hold onto', not 'take down'). Use 拿下.
- Confusing 停住 (dead stop) with 停下 (stop to rest); using the wrong one can change the intended meaning.
FAQ
- When do I use 住 vs 下 after verbs like 停?
- Use 停住 to emphasize that something comes to a complete standstill, often with a sense of being stuck or frozen. Use 停下 to emphasize the act of stopping, often with intention to rest or park temporarily.
- Can I use 放住 to mean 'fix in place'?
- No, 放住 is not a standard collocation in Mandarin. To express 'put something down and secure it', use 放好 or 放稳; to express 'keep it there', use 放着.
- What is the difference between 记住 and 记下?
- 记住 means to commit to memory (fix in mind), while 记下 means to write down or record for reference.
- How do I negate these resultative complements?
- Use 不住 to indicate failure to hold or stop, e.g., 停不住 (can't stop). Use 不下 to indicate failure to settle or record, e.g., 记不下 (can't write down all).