撤换

• Pinyin: chè huàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 撤 = 扌 (hand) + 徹 (phonetic); 换 = 扌 (hand) + 奂 (brilliant, phonetic)

Meaning

To replace; to remove and substitute. To dismiss someone and put another in their place.

Often used for personnel changes, especially removing someone from a position and installing a replacement. Common in workplace and organizational contexts. More formal than simple 换.

Examples

1. 公司决定撤换这个部门的负责人。 The company decided to replace the head of this department.
2. 球队在比赛中撤换了表现不佳的球员。 The team replaced underperforming players during the match.
3. 如果工作做不好，随时可能被撤换。 If you don't do the job well, you could be replaced at any time.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, sports, organizations

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 董事会决定撤换总经理。(The board decided to replace the general manager.)
• 教练在中场休息时撤换了三名球员。(The coach replaced three players at halftime.)

Don't Say

• 撤换这个杯子 (撤换 is for personnel/people — for replacing objects, use 更换 or 换)

Origin & History

Compound of 撤 (to remove, withdraw) and 换 (to change, replace). Together meaning 'remove and replace.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal