<p>If you go by the meaning of both <strong>sentences</strong> they mean the same. But these are the words with the same meaning when if you go by the context.  But if you see the meaning of 2 words individually they have altogether a different meaning.</p>
<p>Like</p>
<blockquote>
<p>不停 means STOP (adverb)</p>
<p>不斷 (不断) means constantly or continued</p>
</blockquote>
<p>As you said the second option can be an adverb or adjective, which depends on how you will use that word. So don't go by the meaning of sentences, see words alone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T13:03:05.490Z
1) `不停 means STOP` might be a typo. 2) why are 不斷 and 不断 listed as two words?
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T10:29:25.430Z
2013-08-06T17:39:56.803Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
user3125
<p>You can understand it by each character in the words. 停 means stop while 断 means no more. Thus, 不停 means keep on going while 不断 means it is not the end. You can also compare with 不息 and 不止，there is a saying that 生命不息，奋斗不止 which means I will struggle till the end of my life. 止 has the same meaning as 停 sometimes, for example, 停止. 息 also has the same meaning as 停 here.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-12T13:21:05.110Z
2013-08-12T13:21:05.110Z
Eden Harder
<p>What's the difference between 不停 and 不斷 (不断) ? Both mean incessant or unceasing. According to what I know, 不停 is an adverb, while 不斷 (不断) can be an adverb or adjective.</p>

<p>However, this sentence seems to mean the same with both words:</p>

<p>She kept working (she didn't stop working).</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>她*<em>不停</em>*地工作. <br> 她*<em>不断</em>*地工作.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T04:47:15.773Z
Disclaimer: Originally posted on another forum but never answered, if here has a good answer I will post the link back there.
tao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T05:35:54.647Z
不停 means without stopping; 不断 means without interruption. Both are quite similar in meaning.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T14:42:14.570Z
不停 = 不(not)+停止(stopped), and 不断 = 不(not)+间断(interrupted). Though they emphasize different aspects, they have very similar impressions.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-07T00:14:23.427Z
@Stan 断 in 不断 can also be active voice 'to take break' in many common cases, like 不断学习, 不断进步, 音乐不断, 不断犯错误.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-07T01:26:34.650Z
@NS.X. that's right, just like the example in OP's question -- I just want to express it's either an adjective or an adverb, but stoppedly or interruptedly seems weird so I didn't state it clearly.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-07T03:36:03.980Z
@Stan 'nonstop' or 'tireless(ly)' would work:)
NS.X.
<word-choice>
What's the difference between 不停 and 不斷？
# What's the difference between 不停 and 不斷？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-06)

What's the difference between 不停 and 不斷 (不断) ? Both mean incessant or unceasing. According to what I know, 不停 is an adverb, while 不斷 (不断) can be an adverb or adjective.

However, this sentence seems to mean the same with both words:

She kept working (she didn't stop working).

> 她\**不停*\*地工作.   
>  她\**不断*\*地工作.

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Disclaimer: Originally posted on another forum but never answered, if here has a good answer I will post the link back there.  
> **username_1**: 不停 means without stopping; 不断 means without interruption. Both are quite similar in meaning.  
> **username_2**: 不停 = 不(not)+停止(stopped), and 不断 = 不(not)+间断(interrupted). Though they emphasize different aspects, they have very similar impressions.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 断 in 不断 can also be active voice 'to take break' in many common cases, like 不断学习, 不断进步, 音乐不断, 不断犯错误.  
> **username_2**: @NS.X. that's right, just like the example in OP's question -- I just want to express it's either an adjective or an adverb, but stoppedly or interruptedly seems weird so I didn't state it clearly.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 'nonstop' or 'tireless(ly)' would work:)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-08-06. Score: -1 | Accepted answer

If you go by the meaning of both **sentences** they mean the same. But these are the words with the same meaning when if you go by the context. But if you see the meaning of 2 words individually they have altogether a different meaning.

Like

> 不停 means STOP (adverb)
>
> 不斷 (不断) means constantly or continued

As you said the second option can be an adverb or adjective, which depends on how you will use that word. So don't go by the meaning of sentences, see words alone.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: 1) `不停 means STOP` might be a typo. 2) why are 不斷 and 不断 listed as two words?  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2013-08-12. Score: 1

You can understand it by each character in the words. 停 means stop while 断 means no more. Thus, 不停 means keep on going while 不断 means it is not the end. You can also compare with 不息 and 不止，there is a saying that 生命不息，奋斗不止 which means I will struggle till the end of my life. 止 has the same meaning as 停 sometimes, for example, 停止. 息 also has the same meaning as 停 here.


---

