取消
qǔ xiāo HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我们取消了明天的会议。
Wǒmen qǔxiāo le míngtiān de huìyì.
We canceled tomorrow's meeting.
因为下雨,比赛被取消了。
Yīnwèi xià yǔ, bǐsài bèi qǔxiāo le.
Because of the rain, the match was called off.
他取消了去北京的旅行计划。
Tā qǔxiāo le qù Běijīng de lǚxíng jìhuà.
He canceled his travel plan to Beijing.
会议取消了。
Huìyì qǔxiāo le.
The meeting was canceled.
他取消订单了。
Tā qǔxiāo dìngdān le.
He canceled the order.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 取 (qǔ) as 'take' and 消 (xiāo) as 'eliminate'—together, they mean 'take away and eliminate,' which is what happens when you cancel something. Associate it with canceling an online order, as in the example sentence.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is common in contexts like canceling appointments (取消约会), events (取消活动), reservations (取消预订), subscriptions (取消订阅), or policies (取消政策). It often appears in administrative, business, or daily life situations.

📖 Grammar Points

取消 is a transitive verb followed by a direct object (e.g., 取消会议). It can be used in passive structures like 被取消 (bèi qǔxiāo, to be canceled). It often appears with modal verbs like 可以 (kěyǐ, can), 必须 (bìxū, must), or 无法 (wúfǎ, unable to).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, canceling plans last-minute might be seen as inconsiderate, so it's polite to give advance notice. In business or official settings, cancellations often require formal procedures or documentation.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 撤销 (chèxiāo, to revoke, often for legal/authoritative decisions) and 废除 (fèichú, to abolish, used for systems/laws). 取消 is more general and widely used for everyday cancellations, while 撤销 implies an authoritative reversal, and 废除 is for long-standing institutions.

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