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取消 (qǔ xiāo) — to cancel

Definition

取消 (qǔxiāo) means to cancel something already planned or arranged — an event, order, or meeting. Lighter than 作废 (which voids a document/contract) and broader than 注销 (which is specifically for accounts or registrations).

verb
to cancel

Examples

  • 取消。
    Míng tiān de bǐ sài qǔ xiāo le.
    Tomorrow's game was canceled.
  • Wǒ xiǎng
    I want to cancel this appointment.
  • ，
    Yīn wèi xià yǔ, huó dòng
    Because of rain, the event was canceled.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

取qǔtake away
消xiāoeliminate

取消 joins 取 take away and 消 eliminate to make something no longer valid.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
肖
肖xiào消xiāo
Same sound today

消 has 氵 (water) beside 肖. The water part connects to putting out or making something vanish, and 肖 gives the sound.

Open 消 →
Appears in
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