Comparing "buduan" and "buting"

If something keeps happening and won't stop happening, we say that it is "continuous" or "incessant." In Chinese, the words are "不断" (bùduàn) and "不停" (bùtíng). Instead of usually being adjectives, these two words are usually adverbs (but they can sometimes be adjectives too!). However, they are used in different ways and different places, so this article will help you distinguish when and where to use them.

不断

"不断" is usually placed before the verb it modifies, and it often requires the particle "地" to show that it is an adverb.

Subj. + 不断 + 地 + Verb

Examples

• 客户 不断地 改变 主意，怎么 办？Kèhù bùduàn de gǎibiàn zhǔyì, zěnme bàn?The client won't stop changing his ideas. What should I do?
• 过去 的 两 年 里，我们 不断地 在 努力，也 不断地 在 进步。Guòqù de liǎng nián lǐ, wǒmen bùduàn de zài nǔlì, yě bùduàn de zài jìnbù.For two years, we continuously pushed ourselves and continuously improved.
• 他们 之间 的 矛盾 一直 不断，关系 不断 恶化。Tāmen zhī jiān de máodùn yīzhí bùduàn, guānxì bùduàn èhuà.The argument between them is ongoing. The relationship is consistently worsening.

不停

"不停" is a little more versatile and can be placed both before the verb as an adverb, or after the verb as something that is somewhat like a complement. Either way, it means the same thing.

Subj. + 不停 + 地 + Verb

Examples

• 我 今天 很 困，不停地 打 哈欠。Wǒ jīntiān hěn kùn, bù tíng de dǎ hāqian.I'm so tired today. I can't stop yawning.
• 感冒了，喉咙 痛，还 不停地 流 鼻涕。Gǎnmào le, hóulóng tòng, hái bù tíng de liú bítì.I got a cold. My throat hurts and constantly sniffling.
• 吃饭 的时候 他 一句话 也 不 说，不停地 吃。Chīfàn de shíhòu tā yījù huà yě bù shuō, bù tíng de chī.When he's eating, he doesn't say anything. He doesn't stop eating.

When "不停" comes after the verb, it behaves somewhat strangely and takes "个" before it in order to become grammatical, like so:

Subj. + Verb + 个 + 不停

Examples

• 孩子 哭 个 不停，是 不 是 发烧 了？Háizi kū gè bù tíng, shì bù shì fāshāo le?The child is crying constantly. Does he have a fever?
• 你 一直 说 个 不停，太 吵 了，不 要 再 说 了。Nǐ yīzhí shuō gè bùtíng, tài chǎo le, bù yào zài shuō le.You've been talking non-stop. It's too noisy.
• 今天 电话 响 个 不停，烦 死 了。Jīntiān diànhuà xiǎng gè bù tíng, fán sǐ le.The phone is ringing incessantly today, it's so annoying.
• 一天到晚 老婆 唠叨 个 不停，你 受 得 了 吗？Yītiān dào wǎn lǎopó láo dāo gè bù tíng, nǐ shòu de le maIn the evening, the wife doesn't stop chatting. Can you stand it?

Sources and Further Reading

HSK5