撤离

• Pinyin: chè lí
• Hanzi breakdown: 撤 = 扌(hand) + 育 + 攵, to withdraw; 离 = simplified from 離, to leave

Meaning

To evacuate; to withdraw; to pull out. To leave a place, especially in an organized or emergency manner.

Commonly used in contexts of emergency evacuation, military withdrawal, or organized departure from a location. Implies an orderly, often urgent departure rather than casual leaving. Frequently appears in news about disasters, conflicts, or diplomatic situations.

Examples

1. 台风即将登陆，沿海地区的居民已经开始撤离。 The typhoon is about to make landfall, and residents in coastal areas have already begun evacuating.
2. 大使馆紧急安排包机，帮助滞留海外的公民撤离。 The embassy urgently arranged charter flights to help citizens stranded overseas evacuate.
3. 火灾发生后，商场里的顾客在十分钟内全部安全撤离。 After the fire broke out, all customers in the shopping mall evacuated safely within ten minutes.

Usage Guide

Context: emergency, military, news

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 请有序撤离，不要惊慌。(Please evacuate in an orderly manner and don't panic.)
• 部队已经撤离了那个地区。(The troops have already withdrawn from that area.)

Don't Say

• 日常离开不用'撤离' (Don't use 撤离 for everyday departures — use 离开 instead; 撤离 implies organized or emergency evacuation)

Origin & History

Combines 撤 (to withdraw) with 离 (to leave), emphasizing both the action of withdrawal and the result of departure.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal