撤销

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chèxiāo: 撤销 - Revoke, Cancel, Annul, Rescind

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: chexiao, 撤销, che xiao meaning, revoke in Chinese, cancel in Chinese, annul, rescind, undo in Chinese, how to cancel an official decision in Chinese, 撤销 vs 取消, Chinese legal terms
  • Summary: Learn the Chinese word 撤销 (chèxiāo), a formal verb meaning to revoke, cancel, or annul. Unlike the everyday “cancel” (取消 qǔxiāo), 撤销 is used for official decisions, legal statuses, commands, or job offers. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and provides practical examples, including its common use as the “Undo” command (Ctrl+Z) in software.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): chèxiāo
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: To revoke, cancel, or annul something, typically an official decision, order, or status.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 撤销 (chèxiāo) as the “official cancellation” button. You don't use it to cancel coffee with a friend; you use it when a higher authority takes back something it previously granted. It could be a court revoking a license, a company rescinding a job offer, or a system administrator canceling a user's privileges. It carries a sense of formality, authority, and finality. The one major exception is its modern, universal use for the “Undo” command in software.

Character Breakdown

  • 撤 (chè): This character means “to withdraw,” “to remove,” or “to pull back.” The left-hand radical 扌(a form of 手 shǒu) indicates an action done with the hand. You are actively pulling something back.
  • 销 (xiāo): This character means “to melt,” “to cancel,” or “to eliminate.” The metal radical 钅 (jīn) hints at its origin of melting down metal, thus destroying its original form and making it disappear.
  • Together, 撤销 (chèxiāo) literally means to “withdraw and eliminate.” This powerful combination creates the meaning of completely and officially nullifying something that was previously in effect.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • Authority and Hierarchy: The use of 撤销 (chèxiāo) often reflects the hierarchical nature of Chinese society and organizations. Decisions are typically made by those in authority, and therefore, only someone with equal or greater authority can “revoke” them. A manager can 撤销 a subordinate's action, or a government body can 撤销 a previously issued permit. This reinforces the concept of a clear chain of command.
  • Comparison to “Cancel” vs. “Revoke”: In English, “cancel” can be very casual (“I'm canceling our dinner plans”) or formal (“The flight was canceled”). Chinese makes a clearer distinction. For casual situations, you almost always use 取消 (qǔxiāo). 撤销 (chèxiāo) is reserved for situations that would use more precise, formal English words like “revoke,” “rescind,” or “annul.” The key difference isn't just the meaning, but the default level of formality. 撤销 is formal by default, signaling a situation with official weight.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Legal and Administrative: This is the most traditional use. A court can 撤销 a previous ruling (撤销判决), or the DMV can 撤销 a driver's license (撤销驾照). It implies a formal, documented process.
  • Business and Corporate: A company can 撤销 a job offer (撤销录用通知) or a manager can 撤销 an order given to a team (撤销命令). It's used for decisions that have official standing within the organization.
  • Digital and Software (The “Undo” Command): This is an extremely common, modern usage. In most Chinese-language software, the “Undo” function (often Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z) is labeled 撤销. This is a direct and widely understood translation. If you accidentally delete a file, you look for the 撤销 button to get it back. In this context, its formality is lessened, but it retains the core meaning of “reversing a prior action.”

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 由于发现了新的证据，法院撤销了原判。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú fāxiànle xīn de zhèngjù, fǎyuàn chèxiāole yuánpàn.
    • English: Due to the discovery of new evidence, the court annulled the original verdict.
    • Analysis: This is a classic legal use of the term. It's formal, official, and has significant consequences.
  • Example 2:
    • 我不小心删除了那个文件，得赶紧撤销操作。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn shānchúle nàge wénjiàn, děi gǎnjǐn chèxiāo cāozuò.
    • English: I accidentally deleted that file, I have to “undo” the operation quickly.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the extremely common “Undo” context in computing. Here, 撤销 simply means to reverse the last action.
  • Example 3:
    • 公司决定撤销对他的任命。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī juédìng chèxiāo duì tā de rènmìng.
    • English: The company decided to rescind his appointment.
    • Analysis: A formal business decision. “Appointment” (任命) is an official status, so 撤销 is the appropriate verb.
  • Example 4:
    • 如果你违反交通规则，你的驾照可能会被撤销。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ wéifǎn jiāotōng guīzé, nǐ de jiàzhào kěnéng huì bèi chèxiāo.
    • English: If you violate traffic rules, your driver's license might be revoked.
    • Analysis: The passive voice (被 bèi) is common with 撤销, as revocation is often something done *to* you by an authority.
  • Example 5:
    • 经理撤销了今天下午的会议。
    • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ chèxiāole jīntiān xiàwǔ de huìyì.
    • English: The manager canceled this afternoon's meeting.
    • Analysis: While 取消 (qǔxiāo) could also be used here, 撤销 implies the meeting was officially scheduled and is now being officially nullified by the person in charge. It sounds slightly more formal than 取消.
  • Example 6:
    • 政府宣布撤销该项有争议的政策。
    • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ xuānbù chèxiāo gāi xiàng yǒu zhēngyì de zhèngcè.
    • English: The government announced it was rescinding the controversial policy.
    • Analysis: A high-level, official action concerning a policy, a perfect use case for 撤销.
  • Example 7:
    • 他的参赛资格因作弊而被撤销。
    • Pinyin: Tā de cānsài zīgé yīn zuòbì ér bèi chèxiāo.
    • English: His eligibility to compete was revoked due to cheating.
    • Analysis: “Eligibility” (资格) is a formal status that can be granted and, in this case, revoked.
  • Example 8:
    • 在发送了错误的邮件后，他希望能撤销发送。
    • Pinyin: Zài fāsòngle cuòwù de yóujiàn hòu, tā xīwàng néng chèxiāo fāsòng.
    • English: After sending the wrong email, he wished he could “unsend” (revoke the sending).
    • Analysis: This applies the logic of the “Undo” command to other digital actions, like recalling an email, a feature in some email clients.
  • Example 9:
    • 指挥官下达了命令，但五分钟后又撤销了。
    • Pinyin: Zhǐhuīguān xiàdále mìnglìng, dàn wǔ fēnzhōng hòu yòu chèxiāole.
    • English: The commander issued the order, but revoked it five minutes later.
    • Analysis: Perfect for military or hierarchical commands (命令). An order is given and then officially retracted.
  • Example 10:
    • 你必须在24小时内撤销你的投诉，否则我们将采取法律行动。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū zài èrshísì xiǎoshí nèi chèxiāo nǐ de tóusù, fǒuzé wǒmen jiāng cǎiqǔ fǎlǜ xíngdòng.
    • English: You must withdraw your complaint within 24 hours, otherwise we will take legal action.
    • Analysis: A “complaint” (投诉) in a formal or legal context is an official action, so withdrawing it uses 撤销.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 撤销 (chèxiāo) vs. 取消 (qǔxiāo): This is the single most important nuance to understand.
    • 取消 (qǔxiāo): Use for general, everyday cancellations. It's the default word.
      • Correct: 我们取消了明天的约会。(Wǒmen qǔxiāole míngtiān de yuēhuì.) - We canceled tomorrow's date.
      • Correct: 航班被取消了。(Hángbān bèi qǔxiāole.) - The flight was canceled.
    • 撤销 (chèxiāo): Use for revoking something with official, legal, or authoritative status.
      • Incorrect: 我们撤销了明天的约会。 (Wǒmen chèxiāole míngtiān de yuēhuì.)
      • Why it's wrong: This sounds overly dramatic and bureaucratic, as if your date was a legally binding contract that is now being annulled. Use 取消 (qǔxiāo) for plans, appointments, and reservations.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 取消 (qǔxiāo) - The common, everyday word for “to cancel” (e.g., plans, flights, orders). Much less formal than 撤销.
  • 废除 (fèichú) - To abolish or abrogate, used for large-scale things like laws, treaties, or systems (e.g., abolishing slavery). It implies a permanent and total elimination.
  • 作废 (zuòfèi) - To become invalid or void. This describes the state of a document, ticket, or check after its expiration or cancellation.
  • 解除 (jiěchú) - To terminate, remove, or relieve (e.g., terminate a contract, relieve someone of their duties, lift a blockade). Focuses on removing a restriction or relationship.
  • 收回 (shōuhuí) - To take back or withdraw. Can be used for physical objects (take back a book) or abstract things like a promise or a statement (收回一句话).
  • 恢复 (huīfù) - To restore or recover. Often the direct opposite of 撤销 in a digital context (the “Redo” button).
  • 命令 (mìnglìng) - An order or command. This is a type of official utterance that can be 撤销'd.
  • 判决 (pànjué) - A verdict or court ruling. A formal decision that can be 撤销'd by a higher court.