制止 zhìzhǐ to curb
to curb; to put a stop to; to stop; to check; to limit
How to remember 制止: 制 system + 止 to stop = to curb.
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How it is used
- To stop an ongoing bad action from outside, by intervening - 制止暴力 (zhìzhǐ bàolì) put a stop to violence; 老师制止了打架 the teacher stopped the fight.
- Object is a harmful behavior or event, not a person; contrast 阻止 (zǔzhǐ, prevent sth from happening) which can be pre-emptive.
- Formal-ish, common in news and official language about crime, conflict, misconduct.