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). These two words are usually adverbs in Chinese, but they can sometimes be adjectives too. Their uses are subtly different, so this article will help you distinguish when and where to use them. “不断”意思是在一段时间内是连续但可以有停顿的状态，可以持续很久。 “不停”意思是一直连续不间断，中间没有停止，持续时间不长。

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, guānxi 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 my nose runs constantly.
• 吃饭 的 时候 他 一 句 话 也 不 说，不 停 地 吃。Chīfàn de shíhou tā yī jù 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 sǐle.The phone is ringing off the hook 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 láodao gè bù tíng, nǐ shòuliǎo ma?All day long, the wife doesn't stop nagging. Would you be able to stand it?

Sources and Further Reading

《1700对近义词语用法对比》北京语法大学出版社

HSK5