撤职 (chè zhí) — to dismiss from office, to remove from a post | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning to officially remove someone from their position, typically as a disciplinary action. Used in official, often negative contexts (e.g. misconduct), not for routine resignations.

verb

to dismiss from officeto remove from a post

Examples

，。
Tā yīn wèi gōng zuò shī zhí, bèi chè le zhí.
He was dismissed for dereliction of duty.
撤职。
Nà ge jú zhǎng yīn wèi shòu huì bèi chè zhí le.
That bureau chief was dismissed for accepting bribes.
撤职。
Gōng sī jué dìng chè zhí sān míng wéi guī yuán gōng.
The company decided to dismiss three employees who violated the rules.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

撤 as remove and 职 as post combine to mean take away someone's position.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

徹

徹chè撤chè

Same sound today

撤 pairs 扌 (hand) with 徹, which gives the sound. The shape shows removing something by hand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 職; 职 is its simplified writing.

耳戠職

Meaning part形符xíngfú

耳耳ěrear

Sound part声符shēngfú

戠

戠zhí職zhí

Same sound today

The traditional form 職 pairs 耳 (ear) with 戠, which gives its sound; the simplified 职 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

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