吊销

• Pinyin: diào xiāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 吊 = 口 + 巾 (to hang, to suspend); 销 = 钅+ 肖 (to cancel, melt away, eliminate)

Meaning

To revoke; to officially cancel or withdraw a licence, permit, or qualification. An administrative action taken by an authority against a violating party.

A formal legal and administrative term used when a government authority withdraws a licence or permit due to violations. Common in news reports about businesses losing operating licences or professionals having their qualifications revoked. Irreversible unless appealed.

Examples

1. 该餐厅因多次违反食品安全规定，被卫生主管部门吊销了营业执照，被迫停业整顿。 Because it repeatedly violated food safety rules, the restaurant had its business license revoked by the health authority and was forced to shut down for rectification.
2. 那名司机酒后驾车导致严重事故，交通部门依法吊销了其驾驶资格，并处以相应罚款。 The driver caused a serious accident after driving drunk; the traffic authority revoked his driving privileges according to the law and imposed the appropriate fines.
3. 律师事务所因代理虚假诉讼被司法机关查实，其执业资格证书随即遭到吊销处理。 After authorities confirmed the law firm had handled a fraudulent lawsuit, its license to practice was immediately revoked.

Usage Guide

Context: law, administration, regulation, news

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 政府对违规排污的企业绝不姑息，将依法吊销其生产许可证并追究相关责任人的法律责任。(The government will never tolerate illegal polluting enterprises — their production licences will be revoked in accordance with the law and responsible individuals held legally accountable.)
• 该医生因发布虚假诊断报告被医疗监督部门吊销执照，同时面临民事赔偿诉讼。(The doctor had his licence revoked by the medical oversight authority for issuing false diagnostic reports and simultaneously faced a civil compensation lawsuit.)

Don't Say

• 吊销他的名字 — 吊销 only applies to licences, permits, or qualifications; for removing a name from a list, use 撤销 or 删除 instead

Origin & History

吊 (to hang; to suspend and take away — like revoking something hanging) + 销 (to cancel, eliminate, erase)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal