撤除 (chè chú) — to remove, to dismantle, to withdraw (from a position or arrangement)

Definition

撤除 means to formally dismantle, remove, or withdraw something in an official capacity — used for structures, positions, or personnel (e.g. 撤除职务, 撤除人员). Stronger and more institutional than plain 去掉 or 取消.

verb
to removeto dismantleto withdraw (from a position or arrangement)

Examples

  • 撤除。
    Zhèng fǔ jué dìng chè chú zhè ge lín shí jiàn zhù.
    The government decided to remove this temporary structure.
  • 撤除。
    Gōng sī chè chú le tā de jīng lǐ zhí wù.
    The company removed him from his manager position.
  • 撤除。
    Dà shǐ guǎn yǐ jīng chè chú quán bù rén yuán.
    The embassy has withdrawn all personnel.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

撤chèwithdraw
除chúremove

“撤” withdraws and “除” removes, together meaning take away.

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 →

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
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú除chú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

除 is built from 阜 and 余, with 余 giving the sound.

Open 除 →

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