The present invention provides a channel monitoring method and device. The method includes: receiving, by user equipment (UE), a first notification message sent by a base station, where the first notification message includes usage information of a frequency resource of a second carrier; determining, by the UE according to the first notification message, whether the frequency resource of the second carrier is in an available state; and if the UE determines that the frequency resource of the second carrier is in the available state, monitoring a PDCCH corresponding to the second carrier; otherwise, stopping monitoring a PDCCH corresponding to the second carrier, where the second carrier is a carrier on which the UE operates on a discontinuously occupied frequency resource. According to the foregoing method, the UE can properly use an unlicensed frequency to communicate with the base station, and meanwhile reduce power consumption of the UE.