chèxiāo: 撤销 - Revoke, Cancel, Annul, Rescind

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.