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，还不停地留鼻水。Gǎnmào le, hóulóng tòng, hái bù tíng de liú bíshuǐ.I got a cold. My throat hurts and my nose keeps running.
• 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？The child is crying constantly. Does he have a fever?
• 今天 电话 响个不停，烦 死 了。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？In the evening, the wife doesn't stop chatting. Can you stand it?

Sources and Further Reading

HSK5