取消

• Pinyin: qǔ xiāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 取 = 耳 (ear) + 又 (hand), originally to take a captive by the ear; 消 = 氵(water) + 肖 (resemble, phonetic), meaning to disappear

Meaning

To cancel; to call off; to revoke. To declare that a planned event or decision will no longer happen.

Used very broadly for cancelling plans, orders, reservations, flights, meetings, and permissions. One of the most practical everyday words. Works for both formal cancellations (取消合同 = cancel a contract) and casual ones (取消约会 = cancel a date). Direct and commonly understood.

Examples

1. 因为下雨，今天的运动会取消了。 Because of the rain, today's sports meeting has been cancelled.
2. 他打电话取消了明天的酒店预订。 He called to cancel tomorrow's hotel reservation.
3. 航班因为大雾被取消了。 The flight was cancelled due to heavy fog.

Usage Guide

Context: plans, reservations, events, administration

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 会议取消了，你不用来了。(The meeting has been cancelled — you don't need to come.)
• 我想取消我的订单。(I'd like to cancel my order.)

Don't Say

• 我取消了我的坏心情。(Don't use 取消 for emotions — it applies to plans, events, and arrangements, not feelings. Say 我不再难过了 instead.)

Origin & History

取 means to take or fetch; 消 means to disappear or eliminate. Together they mean to take something away so it disappears — to remove a plan or arrangement from existence.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal