撤兵 (chè bīng) — to withdraw troops

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to withdraw troops' — 撤 is the verb 'withdraw/pull back' and 兵 means 'troops/soldiers'. Often used in military, diplomatic, or news contexts to describe pulling forces out of an area.

verb
to withdraw troops

Examples

  • 撤兵。
    Qián xiàn zhǐ huī guān mìng lìng chè bīng.
    The frontline commander ordered a troop withdrawal.
  • 。
    Tā men chè le sān qiān bīng.
    They withdrew three thousand troops.
  • 撤兵，。
    Duì fāng jù jué chè bīng, jú shì gèng jiā jǐn zhāng.
    The other side refused to withdraw troops, and the situation became more tense.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

撤chèwithdraw
兵bīngtroops

撤 means to pull back and 兵 means troops, so it means to pull troops back.

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.

Open 撤 →

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

  • 斤斤jīna short axe
  • 廾廾gǒng2 hands

兵 combines 斤, a short axe, with 廾, two hands, showing a pair of hands holding a weapon.

Open 兵 →

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