TongTong
Sign in

后撤 (hòu chè) — to withdraw; to pull back (troops, forces, etc.); to retreat; to evacuate

Definition

A formal/military term for pulling back forces from a position under pressure. Stronger than 撤退 (broader retreat) and more strategic than 后退 (everyday step back).

verb
to withdrawto pull back (troops, forces, etc.)to retreatto evacuate

Examples

  • ，后撤。
    Bù duì jiē dào mìng lìng, lì jí cóng zhèn dì hòu chè.
    The troops received orders to withdraw from the position immediately.
  • ，后撤。
    Zài duì fāng měng liè gōng shì xià, wǒ fāng bèi pò hòu chè.
    Under the fierce attack from the other side, our side was forced to retreat.
  • ，后撤。
    Jiào liàn shì yì duì yuán qián yā, ér bú shì hòu chè fáng shǒu.
    The coach signaled the players to press forward, not to drop back and defend.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

后hòuback
撤chèwithdraw

后 (back) and 撤 (withdraw) combine to mean pulling back or retreating.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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.

Open 撤 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.