中断|ちゅうだんchuudan[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbinterruption; suspension; break
   病気びょうきのため休暇きゅうかが中断ちゅうだんした。↗

   Illness cut short his vacation.

• Synonym中絶ちゅうぜつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Now mostly means abortion, as in 「妊娠中絶」; the general 'stop midway' sense is rare, so 「中断」 is the safer everyday choice.
• Synonym途絶とぜつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Often used for traffic or communication being cut off, as in 「連絡が途絶する」; suggests a complete break and does not stress later resumption.
• Synonym途切れるとぎれるNeutralIntransitive verb for talk, contact or the flow of people breaking off, as in 「会話が途切れる」. Suggests a natural break; 「中断」 can be deliberate.
• SynonymストップNeutralLoanword for stopping, as in 「ストップする」. Common in speech and does not distinguish a pause from a full stop.
• Synonym間断かんだんWrittenWritten/formal prose for a break in continuity. Mostly seen in 「間断なく」 ('without a break'); seldom used on its own.
• Synonym止めるとめるNeutralTransitive verb to stop or turn something off, as in 「車を止める」. Very broad in range and not limited to stopping midway.
• Synonym中止ちゅうしNeutralTo call off or discontinue, as in 「試合中止」, whether before or after it starts; the focus is on the thing not going ahead, while 「中断」 is a pause partway through.
• Synonym停止ていしNeutralA complete stop or a ban, as in 「営業停止」. Things come to a full halt, while 「中断」 is a break partway through.
• Synonym途切れとぎれNeutralA noun for intermittent breaks or gaps, as in 「話の途切れ」. Leans toward a natural break-off, while 「中断」 can be a deliberate stop.
• Synonym途切らせるとぎらせるNeutralTransitive verb: to let something in progress break off midway, whether deliberately or not, as in 「言葉を途切らせる」. Not commonly used.
• Synonym途絶えとだえWrittenWritten/formal prose noun for something ongoing stopping temporarily or for good, such as news or correspondence; mostly describes natural breaks.
• Synonym止すさすNeutralA suffix on a verb's continuative form meaning the action stops halfway and is left undone, as in 「読みさしの本」; 「中断」 can stand alone.
• Related休止きゅうしWrittenWritten/formal prose for a pause or suspension, as in 「運転休止」「休止符」; leans toward resuming later, while 「中断」 often means being interrupted.
• Related一段落いちだんらくNeutralReaching a natural stopping point, as in 「仕事が一段落する」. About completing a stage of work, not about being interrupted.
• Related一息ひといきCasualColloquial. Catching one's breath or taking a short rest, as in 「一息つく」. A brief breather, not an interruption of the activity itself.
• Related一休みひとやすみCasualColloquial. A short rest, as in 「ここで一休み」. About relaxing yourself, whereas 「中断」 is the activity itself breaking off.
• RelatedブレイクNeutralLoanword with several senses: a rest break, a break in tennis or boxing, or a rise to fame. Common in speech, but not the usual word for an activity breaking off partway.
• Related休憩きゅうけいNeutralA rest, as in 「休憩時間」. A deliberately scheduled break during work, study or similar.
• Related切れ目きれめNeutralThe place where something breaks or a gap, as in 「雲の切れ目」. Points to the spot of the break; 「中断」 is the event of breaking off.
• Related休息きゅうそくWrittenWritten/formal prose for rest that restores the body, as in 「十分な休息」. Physical recuperation, unrelated to an activity being cut off.
• Related息抜きいきぬきCasualColloquial. Taking a breather to refresh yourself, as in 「息抜きに散歩する」. About unwinding, not about an activity being interrupted.
• Related間まNeutralA pause or gap in time, as in 「間を置く」. The space between things; 「中断」 is an ongoing activity breaking off.
• RelatedやめるNeutralTransitive verb to stop or turn something off, as in 「車を止める」. Very broad in range and not limited to stopping midway.
• Related切り上げるきりあげるNeutralTo wrap up early, as in 「仕事を切り上げる」. You deliberately end at a convenient point and do not continue.
• Related打ち切るうちきるNeutralTo terminate something midway, as in 「連載を打ち切る」. Ends it for good with no resumption, while 「中断」 may be followed by a restart.
• Related打ち切りうちきりNeutralNoun form for a termination or axing, as in 「連載打ち切り」. The thing ends there, while 「中断」 may be followed by a restart.
• Related一切りひときりWrittenWritten/formal prose for a pause or a stretch of time. Rare in modern usage; everyday speech prefers 「区切り」 or 「一段落」.
• Related中入りなかいりWrittenWritten/formal prose for an intermission in sumo or theater. Tied to traditional performing arts; a scheduled break, not an accidental interruption.
• Related一時停止いちじていしNeutralA temporary halt, as at the 「一時停止」 road signs. You stop for the moment and continue afterwards.
• Antonym継続けいぞくNeutralAntonym: continuation. The opposite of 「中断」, which stops something midway.
• Antonym再開さいかいNeutralAntonym: resumption or restarting, as in 「試合再開」. The opposite of 「中断」.

Use 「中断」 when something in progress breaks off partway, as in 「試合が中断する」. If the event is cancelled outright, say 「中止」; for a pause with resumption in view, 「休止」; for a conversation or contact dying out naturally, 「途切れる」. Rest words like 「休憩」「一休み」 are for breaks you take, not interruptions, and 「打ち切る」「打ち切り」 mean ending for good. The opposites are 「再開」 and 「継続」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 今いままで続つづいていた物事ものごとが途中とちゅうで途切とぎれること。