区别辨析break、rest、pause、interval、recess、cease与stop

这些名词均含有“中止,停止,休息”之意。

break : 非正式用词,指突然的或短时间的中止,如工作或活动期间接短暂休息。

  • Finally there was a break in the rain and we went out.
    雨终于停了,我们都出来了。
  • a coffee break
    喝咖啡的休息时间
  • We were talking about it at break.
    我们课间休息时在谈论这事。
  • Take a couple of weeks off - you need a break.
    请两个星期的假吧——你需要休息。
  • How long is the Christmas break this year?
    今年的圣诞假期有多长?
  • We decided to have a short/spring/winter/weekend break in Paris.
    我们决定在巴黎停留一下/休春假/休寒假/度周末。

rest : 指统称的休息。

  • After they had carried the piano up the stairs, they stopped for a rest.
    他们把钢琴搬到楼上后,停下来休息了一会儿。
  • The doctor prescribed some pills and told her to get/have a week's rest.
    医生开了些药,并嘱咐她休息一周。

pause : 指短暂的中断或停止,含再进行下去的意味。

  • There was a long pause before she answered.
    她停了好一会儿才回答。
  • David waited for a pause in the conversation so he could ask his question.
    戴维等着谈话停下来,好问个问题。
  • After a brief pause, they continued climbing.
    他们略停了一下就继续爬山。
  • The rain fell without pause .
    雨不停地下着。

interval : 指一出戏在幕与幕之间,音乐会上下串场之间或演出中预先安排的休息;也可泛指事件之间的一段时间。

  • There will be two 20-minute intervals during the opera.
    歌剧演出中有两次20分钟的幕间休息。
  • He scored his first goal of the match three minutes after the interval.
    下半场刚开始3分钟,他就射入了他本场比赛的第一个进球。

recess : 正式用词,指业务活动或工作中短暂的或长时间的休息。

  • The conference broke for a recess.
    会议暂时休会。
  • Parliament returns to work today after its summer recess.
    国会在结束夏季休会后今天开始恢复工作。
  • The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.
    会议主席宣布休会10分钟。

cease : 正式用词,侧重逐渐结束某活动或状态,含永远结束的意味。

  • They agreed on a cease fire.
    他们就停火问题达成协议。

stop : 普通用词,指迅速或突然中止某行为、活动或状态。

  • Please remain in your seat until the plane comes to a complete stop.
    请在飞机停稳前留在自己的座位上。
  • We'd have been here sooner, but we made several stops along the way.
    我们本来可以早点儿到这儿的,但我们中途停了好几次。
  • At the beginning of the project there were a lot of stops and starts.
    项目开始的时候,有很多磕磕绊绊。