Meaning of 作废
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to become invalid
- to cancel
- to delete
- to nullify
How to use 作废
作废 is used for documents, tickets, contracts, coupons, passwords and similar things that lose their validity. It often appears in notices and with 已经 or 自动. Example: 这张优惠券已经作废了。(Zhè zhāng yōuhuìquàn yǐjīng zuòfèi le.) This coupon is no longer valid.
作 (zuò) means to make or act, and 废 (fèi) means waste or useless. Something that is "made useless" has been 作废, like a ticket that no longer works.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write 做废 because 做 (zuò) and 作 (zuò) sound the same, but the correct form is 作废. Also, 作废 describes something becoming invalid, so it is not used for canceling plans or meetings, where 取消 (qǔxiāo) is the natural choice.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
作 zuò · to do · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
废 fèi · to abolish · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 作废.
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; (of a machine) to operate |
| 动作 | dòngzuò | movement; motion; action; to act; to move |
| 作用 | zuòyòng | to act on; to affect; action; function; activity |
| 作家 | zuòjiā | author |
| 作业 | zuòyè | school assignment; homework |
| 叫作 | jiàozuò | to call; to be called |
| 作文 | zuòwén | to write an essay; composition (student essay) |
| 合作 | hézuò | to cooperate; to collaborate; to work together |
| 作品 | zuòpǐn | work (of art); opus |
| 制作 | zhìzuò | to make; to manufacture |
| 作者 | zuòzhě | author; writer |
| 创作 | chuàngzuò | to create; to produce; to write; a creative work; a creation |
Questions about 作废
What does 作废 mean?
作废 (zuòfèi) means "to become invalid; to cancel" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 作废?
作废 is made of 2 characters: 作 (7 strokes), 废 (8 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 作废 an HSK word?
Yes. 作废 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 作废 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 作废 is written 作廢.
What is the difference between 作废 and 取消?
作废 means something like a document or ticket loses its validity. 取消 means to call off or cancel an event, plan or order. You say 取消会议 (cancel a meeting) but 合同作废 (the contract is void).
Can 作废 take an object?
It usually works without an object, as in 票作废了 (the ticket is void). To say someone voided something, Chinese often uses a 把 or 被 structure, such as 把旧密码作废 or 旧护照被作废了.