取消
qǔxiāo
In Chinese, to cancel is expressed as 取消 (qǔxiāo). Wiktionary also lists 廢除 / 废除 (fèichú).
Meaning: invalidate, annul (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 取消 | qǔxiāo |
| 廢除 / 废除 | fèichú |
The standard verb for canceling specific events, appointments, orders, plans, subscriptions, meetings or flights is 取消. For terminating long-term commitments such as contracts or agreements, the formal term 终止 is used.
Which one should you use?
Use 取消 to express canceling an event, appointment or order. For the formal abolition or repeal of laws, systems or long-standing customs, use 废除.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 了 after 取消 to form 取消了 indicates that the cancellation has been completed or has already occurred.
How do you pronounce it?
qǔxiāo
Did you know?
- To 'cancel' a person in the modern social media sense of 'cancel culture' is not expressed by 取消, but by the term 抵制 which means 'to boycott'.
- The modern Chinese term 取消 is actually an orthographic borrowing from the Japanese word torikesu. While the characters are shared, the way they are used in Chinese reflects a historical adaptation of Japanese vocabulary.
- The character 废 in 废除 also appears in the word for 'waste' or 'scrap metal', implying that the law is not just canceled but treated as useless junk.
Examples in context
- 我应该取消我到洛杉矶的旅行。I should cancel my L.A. trip.This sentence shows how to use 取消 regarding a trip.Tatoeba #4267353 by notabene, translation #29361 by bmorsello
- 我们的钱不够，所以我只好把订单取消了。I had to cancel that order because we didn't have enough money to pay for it.This sentence shows how to use 取消 for an order.Tatoeba #8870263 by will66, translation #2331760 by CK
- 我该取消通话吗?Should I cancel the call?This sentence shows how to use 取消 for a call.Tatoeba #333285 by fucongcong, translation #278426 by CK
- 取消这个预订。Cancel this reservation.
- 终止合约。Terminate the contract.
- 我们取消了计划。We canceled the plan.
- 我们决定放弃前往。We decided to cancel going there.
- 我们必须取消会议，因为疫情不容忽视。We have to cancel the meeting because the epidemic cannot be ignored.
- 考虑到天气不好，咱们还是取消吧。Considering the bad weather, let's just cancel it.
- 对不起，请取消我的预约。I'm sorry, please cancel my appointment.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a restaurant, Zijie tells Zihan that their reservation was canceled.
- 梓涵 Zihan那个预约取消了吗？Nàge yùyuē qǔxiāo le ma?Was that reservation canceled?
- 俊杰 Junjie是的，餐厅取消了预约。Shì de, cāntīng qǔxiāo le yùyuē.Yes, the restaurant canceled the reservation.
- 梓涵 Zihan真遗憾，那我们去吃别的吧。Zhēn yíhàn, nà wǒmen qù chī bié de ba.That's too bad, let's go eat something else then.
- 俊杰 Junjie好主意，我们走吧。Hǎo zhǔyì, wǒmen zǒu ba.Good idea, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cancel” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 取消, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
