Meaning
撤销 means to officially cancel, revoke, or undo something that was previously established, decided, or implemented. It's commonly used in formal, legal, administrative, and business contexts to describe the act of withdrawing decisions, orders, permissions, or agreements.
Usage
This is a relatively formal verb often appearing in official documents, legal proceedings, business contracts, and administrative contexts. It implies authority and officialdom—you typically 撤销 decisions, licenses, appointments, or legal rulings. Less common in casual daily conversation, where simpler words like 取消 might be preferred for informal cancellations.
Examples
- 01法院决定撤销原判决。.The court decided to revoke the original verdict.
- 02公司撤销了他的经理职务。.The company revoked his position as manager.
Characters
Common collocations
- 撤销决定to revoke a decision
- 撤销处分to withdraw a disciplinary action
- 撤销职务to dismiss from a position
- 撤销起诉to withdraw a lawsuit
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to removal: 撤 originally meant to physically remove or withdraw something, while 销 means to melt away or eliminate. Together they form a compound emphasizing complete cancellation or revocation.