révoquer 30秒了解
- Révoquer is a formal French verb meaning to cancel an official decision or dismiss a high-level person.
- It is primarily used in legal, administrative, and corporate contexts, rather than everyday life.
- Commonly associated with revoking wills, licenses, or dismissing government ministers and CEOs.
- It is a regular -er verb, but carries more weight and authority than the general word 'annuler'.
The French verb révoquer is a powerful and formal term primarily used to describe the act of officially cancelling, annulling, or withdrawing a decision, a law, or a person's mandate. Unlike the more common verb annuler (to cancel), which can be used for something as simple as a dinner reservation, révoquer carries a weight of authority and finality. It implies that a previously granted right, power, or status is being taken back by the entity that granted it. In English, we often translate this as 'to revoke,' 'to dismiss,' or 'to repeal,' depending on the context.
- Legal Context
- In the legal sphere, révoquer refers to the annulment of a legal act or a testament. For instance, if someone writes a new will, they might révoquer the previous one.
- Administrative Context
- This is perhaps the most common usage in modern French news. It refers to the dismissal of a high-ranking official or a civil servant. When a minister is removed from their position by the President, the term révoquer is used to signify an official termination of their duties.
- Contractual Context
- In business, a company might révoquer a mandate given to an agent or a director, effectively ending their legal ability to act on behalf of the company.
Le conseil d'administration a décidé de révoquer le directeur général avec effet immédiat.
Understanding the nuance of révoquer requires recognizing the hierarchy involved. You cannot révoquer your boss, but your boss (or the board) can révoquer you. It is a downward exercise of power. Furthermore, it is often used in historical contexts, such as the famous 'Révocation de l'Édit de Nantes' by Louis XIV, which cancelled the religious freedoms of Protestants in France. This historical weight contributes to the word's serious and sometimes harsh connotation in modern French.
L'autorité préfectorale peut révoquer l'autorisation de stationnement en cas de non-respect des règles.
- Synonym Comparison
- Annuler: General cancellation.
Abroger: Specifically for laws or decrees.
Licencier: Specifically for firing an employee in a standard private sector job.
Le juge a le pouvoir de révoquer le sursis si le condamné récidive.
Using révoquer correctly involves understanding its transitive nature—you always revoke *something* or *someone*. Because it is a regular -er verb, its conjugation is straightforward, but its application is precise. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation unless discussing formal matters like contracts or official appointments.
- Dismissing an Official
- When a person in a high position is fired, révoquer is the standard term. Example: Le ministre a été révoqué suite au scandale. (The minister was dismissed following the scandal.)
- Cancelling a Document
- If a legal document is made void, use révoquer. Example: Il a décidé de révoquer son testament précédent. (He decided to revoke his previous will.)
Si vous ne respectez pas les conditions, la banque peut révoquer votre ligne de crédit.
In a grammatical sense, révoquer is often found in the passive voice (être révoqué) because the focus is frequently on the person or thing that has been cancelled or dismissed. In professional writing, you might see it used with abstract nouns like 'mandat' (mandate), 'pouvoir' (power), or 'autorisation' (authorization). It is important to note that révoquer implies a unilateral decision; it is not a mutual agreement to end something.
Peut-on révoquer une donation faite de son vivant ?
- Historical Usage
- Historians often use the noun form révocation. In sentences, you would say: Le roi a révoqué l'édit en 1685. (The king revoked the edict in 1685.)
Le maire risque d'être révoqué par le gouvernement s'il commet une faute grave.
You are most likely to encounter révoquer in formal settings, news broadcasts, and legal documents. It is not a word you would typically use while chatting with friends at a café, unless you are discussing politics or a major corporate shake-up. In the French news cycle, révoquer appears frequently when a high-profile figure, such as a police chief or a magistrate, is removed from office due to misconduct or a change in political direction.
Le président a le pouvoir de révoquer les membres du gouvernement.
In the business world, during a 'Conseil d'Administration' (Board of Directors meeting), the word is used to describe the removal of a CEO. For example, if a company's shares plummet, the board might vote to révoquer le PDG (dismiss the CEO). This is a formal procedure that requires a vote and specific legal justifications. You will also see it on official notices from the 'Préfecture' regarding the cancellation of business licenses or specialized permits.
- News Media
- Headlines like 'Un policier révoqué pour faute grave' (A policeman dismissed for serious misconduct) are common in French newspapers like Le Monde or Le Figaro.
- Legal Documents
- In contracts, you might find a clause stating: 'Ce mandat est révocable à tout moment.' (This mandate can be revoked at any time.)
L'ambassadeur a été révoqué après ses déclarations controversées.
Finally, in the context of banking and finance, you might hear it regarding 'révocation d'un virement' (cancelling a bank transfer) or 'révocation d'une autorisation de prélèvement' (cancelling a direct debit authorization). In these instances, it refers to the technical act of stopping a recurring or scheduled payment.
One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using révoquer when they simply mean 'to cancel' in an informal context. If you say 'Je veux révoquer mon rendez-vous chez le dentiste,' it sounds incredibly strange and overly formal, as if you are a government official stripping the dentist of their right to see you. For appointments, use annuler.
Incorrect: J'ai révoqué ma commande de pizza.
Another common error is confusing révoquer with renvoyer or licencier. While all three can mean 'to fire,' they apply to different types of employment. Licencier is the standard term for the private sector. Révoquer is specific to 'fonctionnaires' (civil servants) or high-level corporate officers. Using révoquer for a waiter or a retail clerk is technically incorrect in a French administrative sense.
- Confusion with 'Rappeler'
- In English, 'to recall' can sometimes mean to revoke (like a recall election). In French, rappeler usually means 'to call back' or 'to remind.' Do not use rappeler when you mean to strip someone of their mandate; use révoquer.
Correct: Le gouvernement a décidé de révoquer le préfet.
Finally, watch out for the preposition. Unlike some verbs that require à or de, révoquer takes a direct object. You révoque quelque chose, you don't révoque de quelque chose. Misplacing prepositions is a hallmark of intermediate learners, so keeping the structure simple is key.
French has a rich vocabulary for ending things, and choosing the right synonym for révoquer depends entirely on the context. While révoquer is formal and administrative, other words might be more appropriate for specific situations.
- Abroger
- This is used specifically for laws, decrees, or regulations. You abroge a law, you don't usually révoque it (though the effect is similar). Abroger is the legislative equivalent of révoquer.
- Résilier
- Used for contracts, insurance policies, or leases. If you want to end your phone contract, you résilie it. Révoquer would be too aggressive and legally inaccurate here.
- Destituer
- Very close to révoquer but even more focused on the loss of honor or rank. It is often used for heads of state or military leaders. It translates well as 'to depose' or 'to dismiss from office' in a very formal sense.
L'assemblée a voté pour abroger la loi controversée.
Je souhaite résilier mon contrat d'assurance habitation.
In summary, use révoquer for people in high positions, wills, or specific administrative authorizations. Use annuler for everyday things, abroger for laws, and résilier for contracts. Understanding these distinctions will make your French sound much more precise and sophisticated.
How Formal Is It?
趣味小知识
The word is a 'doublet' of the English word 'revoke'. Both come from the same Latin root. In ancient Rome, it was used literally to call soldiers back from the field.
发音指南
- Pronouncing the 'r' like an English 'r'.
- Making the 'o' sound like 'ow' in 'slow'.
- Pronouncing the final 'er' like 'er' in 'teacher' instead of 'ay'.
按水平分级的例句
Le directeur peut révoquer cette règle.
The director can revoke this rule.
Simple present tense of a regular -er verb.
Il ne faut pas révoquer mon accès.
My access must not be revoked.
Infinitive after 'falloir'.
Le club va révoquer sa carte.
The club is going to revoke his card.
Near future with 'aller' + infinitive.
Pourquoi révoquer ce permis ?
Why revoke this permit?
Interrogative sentence.
Ils ont décidé de révoquer le contrat.
They decided to revoke the contract.
Passé composé with 'avoir'.
Elle veut révoquer sa décision.
She wants to revoke her decision.
Verb 'vouloir' followed by infinitive.
Le chef révoque l'ordre.
The boss revokes the order.
Third person singular present.
On ne peut pas révoquer le passé.
One cannot revoke the past.
General subject 'on'.
La mairie a révoqué l'autorisation du marché.
The city hall revoked the market's authorization.
Passé composé with a feminine noun object.
L'arbitre peut révoquer son propre carton jaune.
The referee can revoke his own yellow card.
Modal verb 'pouvoir' + infinitive.
Le propriétaire veut révoquer le bail.
The landlord wants to revoke the lease.
Usage in a housing context.
Si tu triches, on va révoquer ton prix.
If you cheat, they will revoke your prize.
Conditional 'si' clause.
Le maire a été révoqué par le préfet.
The mayor was dismissed by the prefect.
Passive voice in the passé composé.
Il est possible de révoquer un virement bancaire.
It is possible to revoke a bank transfer.
Impersonal 'il est possible de'.
Pourquoi ont-ils révoqué le décret ?
Why did they revoke the decree?
Inverted question form.
Elle a révoqué son accord hier soir.
She revoked her agreement last night.
Time marker 'hier soir'.
Le conseil d'administration peut révoquer le PDG.
The board of directors can dismiss the CEO.
Specific corporate vocabulary.
Le testament a été révoqué par un nouveau document.
The will was revoked by a new document.
Passive voice with an agent ('par...').
L'autorité a révoqué sa licence de taxi.
The authority revoked his taxi license.
Administrative context.
Il craint que le juge ne révoque son sursis.
He fears that the judge might revoke his suspended sentence.
Subjunctive mood after 'craindre que' with 'ne' explétif.
Le mandat de l'agent a été révoqué sans préavis.
The agent's mandate was revoked without notice.
Prepositional phrase 'sans préavis'.
Peut-on révoquer une donation entre époux ?
Can a donation between spouses be revoked?
Legal terminology.
Le gouvernement menace de révoquer les subventions.
The government threatens to revoke the subsidies.
Verb 'menacer de' + infinitive.
Le ministre a été révoqué pour faute grave.
The minister was dismissed for serious misconduct.
Expression 'pour faute grave'.
Le pouvoir de révoquer un élu appartient au peuple.
The power to revoke an elected official belongs to the people.
Noun phrase as a subject.
La décision est irrévocable une fois signée.
The decision is irrevocable once signed.
Use of the adjective 'irrévocable'.
Il a révoqué ses propos lors de l'audience.
He retracted his statements during the hearing.
Nuance of 'retracting' words.
La loi prévoit que l'on puisse révoquer le contrat.
The law provides that the contract can be revoked.
Subjunctive 'puisse' after 'prévoit que'.
Le créancier a révoqué l'échéancier de paiement.
The creditor revoked the payment schedule.
Financial context.
L'assemblée générale a voté pour révoquer les administrateurs.
The general assembly voted to dismiss the directors.
Corporate governance context.
Le roi a révoqué l'édit, provoquant l'exil de milliers de personnes.
The king revoked the edict, causing the exile of thousands.
Present participle 'provoquant'.
L'offre peut être révoquée tant qu'elle n'est pas acceptée.
The offer can be revoked as long as it is not accepted.
Conjunction 'tant que'.
La révocation du testament soulève des questions juridiques complexes.
The revocation of the will raises complex legal questions.
Noun form 'révocation'.
Le conseil constitutionnel pourrait révoquer cette disposition.
The constitutional council could revoke this provision.
Conditional mood for possibility.
Il est possible de révoquer une procuration à tout moment.
It is possible to revoke a power of attorney at any time.
Usage of 'procuration'.
Le sentiment de trahison a révoqué toute chance de réconciliation.
The feeling of betrayal revoked any chance of reconciliation.
Abstract usage.
L'acte de révoquer un ambassadeur est un geste diplomatique fort.
The act of revoking an ambassador is a strong diplomatic gesture.
Gerund-like use of the infinitive.
La cour a révoqué le jugement de première instance.
The court revoked the judgment of the first instance.
Judicial context.
On ne saurait révoquer un droit fondamental sans débat.
One cannot revoke a fundamental right without debate.
Formal 'ne saurait' construction.
Le licenciement a été requalifié en révocation abusive.
The dismissal was reclassified as an abusive revocation.
Passive voice with 'requalifié'.
L'arbitraire du prince pouvait révoquer les privilèges les plus anciens.
The prince's whims could revoke the most ancient privileges.
Historical/Literary register.
La révocation
Revocation 'ad nutum' allows for the dismissal of a leader without cause.
Latin legal expression.
Le destin semble avoir révoqué ses promesses de bonheur.
Fate seems to have revoked its promises of happiness.
Poetic/Metaphorical usage.
Il s'agit de révoquer l'idée même de progrès linéaire.
It is a matter of revoking the very idea of linear progress.
Philosophical context.
La clause de révocabilité doit être stipulée explicitement.
The revocability clause must be explicitly stipulated.
Noun 'révocabilité'.
L'histoire a révoqué bien des certitudes que l'on croyait éternelles.
History has revoked many certainties that were thought to be eternal.
Complex tense usage.
La révocation d'une libération conditionnelle est une mesure de sûreté.
The revocation of parole is a security measure.
Criminology context.
Nul ne peut révoquer un engagement pris sous serment.
No one can revoke an engagement made under oath.
Formal 'Nul ne peut'.
常见搭配
常用短语
— To cancel or dismiss right away without delay.
Il a été révoqué avec effet immédiat.
— The legal or official right to cancel something.
Qui détient le pouvoir de révoquer le maire ?
— The formal document or action of cancelling.
L'acte de révocation a été signé ce matin.
— To cancel a suspended prison sentence because of a new crime.
Le juge va révoquer son sursis.
— To take back the right given to someone to act on your behalf.
Elle a révoqué sa procuration bancaire.
— To go back on a formal promise or contract.
Il est difficile de révoquer un tel engagement.
— To take away a professional operating permit.
Sa licence de pilote a été révoquée.
— To officially change a previous ruling.
La commission a décidé de révoquer sa décision.
— To remove a member of a board of directors.
Les actionnaires veulent révoquer l'administrateur.
习语与表达
— To call into question or to doubt something (though 'mettre en doute' is more common).
Je révoque en doute la véracité de ses propos.
literary— To try to change or undo what has already happened (often used poetically).
Nul ne peut révoquer le passé.
literary— A legal term meaning dismissal at a whim, without needing a reason.
Le PDG est révocable ad nutum.
legal— Not a standard idiom (don't confuse with 'couper les ponts' - to burn bridges).
N/A
N/A— Something that is not permanent and can be taken back.
C'est un acte révocable par nature.
formal— To take back a special right.
Le roi a révoqué les privilèges de la ville.
historical— To overturn or cancel the current social or political system.
La révolution a révoqué l'ordre établi.
academic— To officially withdraw trust (often in a parliamentary sense).
Le parlement a révoqué sa confiance au premier ministre.
political— To disinherit someone by cancelling their mention in a will.
Il a révoqué son héritier principal.
legal词族
名词
动词
形容词
相关
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of 'RE-VO-KING'. A King (king) decides to RE-VO (revoke) his decree. He is the authority taking it back.
视觉联想
Imagine a large red 'CANCELLED' stamp being slammed down onto a gold-sealed legal document.
Word Web
挑战
Try to write three sentences using 'révoquer': one about a politician, one about a bank transfer, and one about a will.
词源
From the Latin 'revocare', which means 'to call back' or 'to withdraw'. It is composed of the prefix 're-' (back) and 'vocare' (to call).
原始含义： To call someone back or to summon back.
Romance (Latin-derived).文化背景
Be careful when using it with people; it is a very harsh way to say someone lost their job.
The English 'revoke' is very similar, making this a 'true friend' (cognate). However, English speakers use 'fire' or 'dismiss' for people more often than 'revoke'.
Summary
The word 'révoquer' is your go-to term for 'official' cancellation or dismissal. Use it when power is being exercised to take something back, like a law or a high-ranking job title. Example: 'Le ministre a été révoqué.'
- Révoquer is a formal French verb meaning to cancel an official decision or dismiss a high-level person.
- It is primarily used in legal, administrative, and corporate contexts, rather than everyday life.
- Commonly associated with revoking wills, licenses, or dismissing government ministers and CEOs.
- It is a regular -er verb, but carries more weight and authority than the general word 'annuler'.
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