The Chinese vocabulary word 撤销 (chèxiāo) is a formal verb that primarily means to revoke, to cancel, to abolish, or to annul. It is widely utilized in professional, legal, administrative, and technological contexts to indicate the official retraction of a decision, an order, a contract, or an action. When you encounter this word, it usually implies that something which was previously established or enacted is now being officially dismantled or rendered void. Understanding the depth of this term requires recognizing its two constituent characters. The first character, 撤 (chè), carries the meaning of removing, withdrawing, or taking away. The second character, 销 (xiāo), means to cancel, to melt, or to eliminate. Together, they form a powerful compound word that leaves no room for ambiguity regarding the termination of a specific status or mandate. In contemporary Chinese society, you will frequently hear or read this word in official news broadcasts, legal documents, corporate announcements, and digital interfaces. For instance, when a government agency decides to revoke a previously issued regulation, they will use this term. Similarly, in the realm of computing and software, this word is the standard translation for the 'Undo' function, allowing users to reverse their most recent digital action. This dual application in both high-level bureaucratic environments and everyday digital interactions makes it an indispensable vocabulary item for intermediate and advanced learners of the Chinese language.
- Legal Context
- In jurisprudence, it refers to the invalidation of a contract, a judicial ruling, or an administrative penalty, effectively restoring the situation to its original state before the action was taken.
法院决定撤销原判。(The court decided to revoke the original judgment.)
- Administrative Context
- In business or government, it describes the abolishment of a department, a policy, or a specific official position due to restructuring or policy shifts.
公司撤销了那个部门。(The company abolished that department.)
- Technological Context
- In digital interfaces, it is the direct equivalent of the 'Undo' command, reversing the last executed command or text input on a computer or mobile device.
你可以按快捷键撤销操作。(You can press the shortcut key to undo the operation.)
政府撤销了这项禁令。(The government lifted this ban.)
他申请撤销处分。(He applied to have the disciplinary action revoked.)
By mastering this word, you elevate your Chinese vocabulary from conversational fluency to professional competence, enabling you to navigate complex documents and formal discussions with absolute confidence and precision.
Using the Chinese word 撤销 (chèxiāo) correctly requires an understanding of its typical grammatical structures and collocations. As a transitive verb, it almost always takes a direct object. The objects that follow this verb are typically abstract nouns representing decisions, rules, organizations, or actions. You cannot use this word with physical, tangible objects like an apple or a book. The standard sentence pattern is Subject + 撤销 + Object. Furthermore, because it often appears in formal or legal contexts, it is frequently used in the passive voice using the 被 (bèi) structure. For example, 'The contract was revoked' translates to 合同被撤销了. It is also common to see it used with auxiliary verbs like 必须 (must), 应该 (should), or 决定 (decide to) to express necessity or official resolution. When writing formal correspondence or official reports, employing this vocabulary demonstrates a sophisticated command of the Chinese language. It is essential to memorize the specific nouns that naturally pair with it, such as 决定 (decision), 命令 (order), 合同 (contract), 职务 (post/position), and 处分 (disciplinary action). Let us examine several detailed examples and grammatical breakdowns to solidify your understanding of how to construct accurate and natural-sounding sentences using this essential vocabulary word.
- Active Voice Structure
- Subject + 撤销 + Object. This is the most straightforward way to state that an authority figure or system is canceling something official.
经理决定撤销这个项目。(The manager decided to cancel this project.)
- Passive Voice Structure
- Object + 被 + (Subject) + 撤销 + 了. Used when the focus is on the thing being canceled rather than who is canceling it.
他的执照被撤销了。(His license was revoked.)
- Infinitive / Purpose Structure
- Used after verbs like 申请 (apply), 要求 (demand), or 同意 (agree) to indicate a desired revocation.
我们要求撤销这项不合理的规定。(We demand the revocation of this unreasonable regulation.)
由于证据不足，指控被撤销了。(Due to insufficient evidence, the charges were dropped.)
请问如何撤销刚才的输入？(Excuse me, how do I undo the previous input?)
Practicing these sentence patterns will drastically improve your ability to communicate in formal Chinese environments, ensuring that your language is both grammatically correct and contextually appropriate for professional or legal discussions.
The Chinese term 撤销 (chèxiāo) is not typically found in casual, everyday chatter among friends, but it is absolutely ubiquitous in several specific, highly important domains of modern life. If you are reading a Chinese newspaper, watching a news broadcast, working in a corporate office in China, or simply using a computer with a Chinese user interface, you will encounter this word constantly. One of the most prominent places you will see it is in legal and administrative news. For example, when a corrupt official is removed from their post, the news anchor will announce that their duties have been revoked using this exact terminology. In the business world, contracts that are deemed invalid due to fraud or mutual agreement are officially annulled using this verb. Furthermore, the digital landscape has fully adopted this word. Every single text editor, graphic design software, and operating system localized in Chinese uses it for the 'Undo' function. Therefore, even if you do not work in law or government, your daily interaction with technology will expose you to this vocabulary. Understanding where and how this word appears helps learners contextualize its formal tone and precise meaning. Let us explore the various environments where this word is most commonly utilized and the specific phrasing associated with each domain.
- News Media
- Broadcasters use it to report on government actions, such as the abolishment of outdated laws, the restructuring of municipal departments, or the lifting of public restrictions.
新闻报道说政府撤销了该机构。(The news reported that the government abolished the agency.)
- Software Interfaces
- It is the standard label for the 'Undo' button in software menus, allowing users to revert their document to a previous state.
点击编辑菜单中的撤销。(Click 'Undo' in the edit menu.)
- Legal Documents
- Lawyers and judges use it to describe the invalidation of contracts, patents, or previous court rulings that have been successfully appealed.
最高法院撤销了下级法院的判决。(The Supreme Court revoked the lower court's ruling.)
我刚才撤销了那笔转账。(I just canceled that bank transfer.)
由于违规，他的参赛资格被撤销了。(Due to violations, his eligibility to compete was revoked.)
By familiarizing yourself with these specific contexts, you will not only recognize the word when it appears but also understand the serious, formal implications it carries in Chinese professional and digital environments.
When English speakers learn the Chinese word 撤销 (chèxiāo), they frequently make a series of predictable errors due to the nuances of translation. The English words 'cancel', 'revoke', and 'delete' often overlap in casual conversation, but in Chinese, the vocabulary is strictly compartmentalized. The most common mistake is using this formal word to describe the cancellation of everyday, informal events. For example, if you want to cancel a meeting, a flight, or a dinner reservation, using this word is completely inappropriate and sounds bizarrely bureaucratic to a native speaker; you must use 取消 (qǔxiāo) instead. Another frequent error involves physical objects. Learners sometimes attempt to use this word to mean 'remove' or 'take away' a physical item from a room, which is grammatically incorrect because this verb only applies to abstract administrative, legal, or digital concepts. Furthermore, in the context of messaging apps, learners often confuse it with 撤回 (chèhuí). While 撤销 is the computer command for 'Undo' (like Ctrl+Z), 撤回 is the specific term used for 'unsending' or 'recalling' a message on platforms like WeChat. Understanding these boundaries is absolutely crucial for achieving a natural, native-like command of the language and avoiding awkward communicative missteps. Let us carefully examine the distinctions to prevent these common errors.
- Mistake: Canceling Casual Events
- Do not use it for meetings, flights, or dates. It implies a legal or administrative abolishment, not a schedule change.
错误: 我要撤销明天的会议。(Wrong: I want to revoke tomorrow's meeting.) -> 正确: 我要取消明天的会议。
- Mistake: Deleting Files
- Do not use it to mean 'delete'. Deleting a file is 删除 (shānchú). This word means to undo the action of deleting, not the deletion itself.
错误: 请撤销那个文件。(Wrong: Please undo that file.) -> 正确: 请删除那个文件。
- Mistake: Recalling Messages
- When you send a text by mistake and want to pull it back, the correct verb is 撤回, not this one.
错误: 我撤销了那条微信。(Wrong: I revoked that WeChat message.) -> 正确: 我撤回了那条微信。
只有法院有权撤销这项判决。(Only the court has the authority to revoke this judgment.)
我的订单被撤销了。(My order was cancelled [by the system/admin].)
By studying these common pitfalls and actively contrasting this formal vocabulary word with its informal and specialized counterparts, you will significantly refine your Chinese expression and communicate with much greater accuracy.
To truly master the Chinese vocabulary word 撤销 (chèxiāo), it is highly beneficial to compare and contrast it with its synonyms and related terms. The Chinese language is exceptionally rich in vocabulary related to cancellation, removal, and abolishment, and selecting the precise word depends entirely on the context. The most common alternative is 取消 (qǔxiāo), which is the general word for 'cancel' and is used for everyday events like meetings, flights, or subscriptions. Another closely related legal term is 废除 (fèichú), which means to abolish or abrogate, but it is reserved for massive, systemic concepts like abolishing slavery or completely scrapping a national law. When dealing with licenses or permits, you might encounter 吊销 (diàoxiāo), which specifically means to revoke a license as a form of punishment (e.g., a driver's license after a DUI). Finally, as mentioned previously, 撤回 (chèhuí) means to recall or withdraw, commonly used for troops, ambassadors, or digital messages. Understanding the subtle boundaries between these terms allows you to express yourself with the precision of a native speaker, ensuring that your intended meaning is conveyed flawlessly whether you are in a casual conversation, a business negotiation, or a legal proceeding. Let us delve into the specific comparisons.
- 取消 (qǔxiāo) - To Cancel
- This is the everyday equivalent. Use it for events, appointments, and casual plans. It lacks the legal weight and formal authority of our main vocabulary word.
因为下雨，比赛被取消了，而不是被撤销。(Because of the rain, the match was cancelled, not revoked.)
- 废除 (fèichú) - To Abolish
- Used for grand, historical, or systemic abolishments. You abolish an old, unjust law or a system, whereas you revoke a specific contract or ruling.
那个国家废除了死刑。(That country abolished the death penalty.)
- 吊销 (diàoxiāo) - To Revoke (License)
- This is a highly specific punitive action. It is almost exclusively used for taking away a license or permit due to a violation.
酒驾会导致驾照被吊销。(Drunk driving will lead to the driver's license being revoked.)
大使被撤回了。(The ambassador was recalled.)
为了纠正错误，上级撤销了原先的命令。(To correct the mistake, the superior revoked the original order.)
By actively distinguishing between these similar terms, you build a robust and highly nuanced vocabulary network that will serve you exceptionally well in advanced Chinese comprehension and expression.
Examples by Level
我不去。
I am not going. (A1 alternative to canceling)
Uses basic negation 不 instead of complex verbs.
我不要这个。
I don't want this.
Basic expression of refusal.
没有了。
It's gone / There is no more.
Basic expression of absence.
不对。
Incorrect / Not right.
Basic negation of correctness.
我不买。
I am not buying it.
Basic verb negation.
他没来。
He didn't come.
Past negation with 没.
这不是我的。
This is not mine.
Basic identification negation.
我不知道。
I don't know.
Basic cognitive negation.
我要取消明天的会议。
I want to cancel tomorrow's meeting.
Uses 取消 (cancel) which is appropriate for A2.
这个比赛取消了。
This match was cancelled.
Basic passive concept with 取消.
对不起，我想取消订单。
Sorry, I want to cancel the order.
Common daily life usage of 取消.
怎么在电脑上撤销？
How do I undo on the computer?
Introduction of the word as a computer command.
我按了撤销键。
I pressed the undo key.
Basic past tense action with the word.
他取消了去北京的计划。
He cancelled the plan to go to Beijing.
Using 取消 with an abstract noun (plan).
你可以撤销这一步。
You can undo this step.
Using the word in a digital context.
不要取消我的票。
Don't cancel my ticket.
Negative command with 取消.
经理决定撤销那个规定。
The manager decided to revoke that rule.
Subject + Verb + Object structure with formal nouns.
你可以撤销刚才的操作吗？
Can you undo the operation you just did?
Using the word for digital operations.
学校撤销了这个旧部门。
The school abolished this old department.
Using the word for organizational restructuring.
如果写错了，就点撤销。
If you write it wrong, just click undo.
Conditional sentence with digital context.
他的资格被撤销了。
His qualification was revoked.
Introduction to passive voice (被) with this formal verb.
公司撤销了对他的处分。
The company revoked his disciplinary action.
Collocation with 处分 (disciplinary action).
我希望能撤销这个决定。
I hope to revoke this decision.
Used with verbs of hoping/wishing.
这个合同不能撤销。
This contract cannot be revoked.
Expressing inability with formal documents.
法院最终决定撤销原判，发回重审。
The court finally decided to revoke the original judgment and remand it for retrial.
Complex legal phrasing and collocations (撤销原判).
由于存在欺诈行为，该合同已被依法撤销。
Due to fraudulent behavior, the contract has been legally annulled.
Formal passive voice with legal justification.
市政府宣布撤销多项不合理的行政审批。
The city government announced the abolishment of multiple unreasonable administrative approvals.
Advanced administrative vocabulary collocation.
在软件中，连续按快捷键可以多次撤销更改。
In the software, pressing the shortcut key continuously allows you to undo changes multiple times.
Detailed technical instruction.
他向仲裁委员会提出申请，要求撤销该裁决。
He submitted an application to the arbitration committee, demanding the revocation of the ruling.
Formal procedural language (提出申请, 要求撤销).
一旦消息发出超过两分钟，就无法撤回，只能请求管理员撤销。
Once a message has been sent for more than two minutes, it cannot be recalled; you can only ask the admin to delete/revoke it.
Contrasting 撤回 and 撤销 in a digital context.
教育局决定撤销那所不合格的培训机构。
The education bureau decided to abolish that unqualified training institution.
Using the word for shutting down organizations.
消费者有权在七天内无理由撤销网购订单。
Consumers have the right to cancel online shopping orders within seven days without providing a reason.
Legal consumer rights terminology.
根据《合同法》的相关规定，显失公平的合同属于可撤销合同。
According to relevant provisions of the Contract Law, a clearly unfair contract is classified as a revocable contract.
Highly technical legal terminology (可撤销合同).
该行政处罚决定因违反法定程序被上级机关依法撤销。
The administrative penalty decision was legally revoked by the superior organ due to a violation of statutory procedures.
Dense bureaucratic passive construction.
撤销权作为一种形成权，其行使必须受到除斥期间的严格限制。
The right of revocation, as a right of formation, must be strictly limited by the exclusion period when exercised.
Advanced jurisprudence vocabulary (撤销权, 形成权).
在数据库事务管理中，回滚操作本质上就是对未提交数据的撤销。
In database transaction management, a rollback operation is essentially the undoing of uncommitted data.
Advanced computer science context.
他撰写了一份详尽的申诉书，力求撤销那项毫无根据的指控。
He drafted an exhaustive appeal, striving to annul that baseless accusation.
Literary and formal phrasing (详尽, 力求).
董事会经过激烈讨论，最终投票表决撤销了设立海外分公司的决议。
After heated discussion, the board of directors finally voted to revoke the resolution to establish an overseas branch.
Corporate governance terminology (决议, 表决).
与废除不同，撤销往往具有溯及力，使行为自始无效。
Unlike abolishment, revocation often has retroactive effect, rendering the action void ab initio.
Comparing synonyms with precise legal distinctions (溯及力).
专利复审委员会宣告撤销该项专利权，理由是缺乏新颖性。
The Patent Reexamination Board declared the revocation of the patent right on the grounds of a lack of novelty.
Intellectual property law terminology.
历史的车轮滚滚向前，那些逆时代潮流而动的陈规陋习终将被彻底撤销与扫除。
The wheels of history roll forward; those outdated conventions and bad habits that go against the tide of the times will eventually be completely abolished and swept away.
Highly literary and metaphorical usage.
在探讨行政行为的效力体系时，撤销、废止与无效宣告构成了三种截然不同的法律评价机制。
When exploring the efficacy system of administrative acts, revocation, abolishment, and declaration of invalidity constitute three distinctly different mechanisms of legal evaluation.
Academic legal analysis.
纵然他百般诡辩，那份充斥着虚假陈述的协议依然难逃被依法撤销的命运。
Even though he resorted to all sorts of sophistry, that agreement, riddled with false statements, still could not escape the fate of being legally annulled.
Rich, descriptive narrative style (百般诡辩, 充斥).
系统底层的撤销机制并非简单的状态覆写，而是基于复杂命令模式的堆栈回退。
The undo mechanism at the system's core is not a simple state overwrite, but a stack rollback based on a complex command pattern.
Deep software engineering terminology.
一纸公文轻描淡写地撤销了那个承载着几代人记忆的文化机构，令人扼腕叹息。
A single official document lightly abolished that cultural institution carrying the memories of generations, leaving people wringing their wrists in sighs.
Evocative, emotional journalistic writing.
法理上，撤销权的行使不仅关乎当事人利益的重新平衡，更维系着交易安全的宏观秩序。
Jurisprudentially, the exercise of the right of revocation is not only about rebalancin
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
