Meaning
撤回 means to withdraw or take back something that was previously put forward, sent, or deployed. It can refer to withdrawing troops, recalling statements, retracting applications, or unsending messages. The word emphasizes the action of pulling something back to its original position or canceling an action already taken.
Usage
Commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts including military operations, legal proceedings, diplomatic statements, and modern digital communication (like unsending WeChat messages). In everyday speech, it's frequently used when discussing taking back applications, proposals, or online messages. Often paired with direct objects like 部队 (troops), 诉讼 (lawsuit), 申请 (application), or 消息 (message).
Examples
- 01他发现信息发错了，赶紧撤回了那条微信。, .He realized he sent the wrong message and quickly unsent that WeChat message.
- 02公司决定撤回之前提交的投标申请。.The company decided to withdraw the previously submitted bid application.
Characters
Common collocations
- 撤回申请to withdraw an application
- 撤回部队to withdraw troops
- 撤回消息to unsend/recall a message
- 撤回起诉to withdraw a lawsuit
Antonyms
Origin
撤 originally meant to remove or dismantle, while 回 means to return or go back. Together they form a compound meaning to pull something back or return it to its starting point.