<p>the standard form is 撤销 according to <a href="http://www.jiaodui.com/bbs/simple/?t9865.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">现代汉语规范词典第3版</a></p>

<p>销 has the meaning to destroy, 撤销 is to destroy the current changes<br>
消 has a passive meaning. Since 撤消 is an active action, 撤销 is more proper</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-24T22:20:12.020Z
2019-09-24T22:20:12.020Z
wada
<p>I first learned that 撤销 was the word for undo in computing terminology, for example to undo a database change or to undo a Git commit. However I've also encountered 撤消 for this same purpose.</p>

<p>According to cedict, 撤消 is a "variant of 撤销". Does that imply that 撤销 is the proper way and 撤消 is perhaps a common misspelling?</p>

<p>Are they both acceptable? Is one of them preferred?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-22T17:36:00.357Z
撤销 is the preferred one. 撤消 is a modern misspelling but accepted for many people use it.
Toosky Hierot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-22T17:43:06.447Z
消 is the common form meaning "dissapear" "eliminate". But 销 is used in many certain collocations such as 销声匿迹 销假 销毁 销刃 销沉 etc.
Toosky Hierot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-23T23:32:39.227Z
@TooskyHierot Would you like to write that up as an answer?
Matthew Moisen
<translation>
Which is better for "undo" in computing: 撤消 or 撤销
# Which is better for "undo" in computing: 撤消 or 撤销

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-22)

I first learned that 撤销 was the word for undo in computing terminology, for example to undo a database change or to undo a Git commit. However I've also encountered 撤消 for this same purpose.

According to cedict, 撤消 is a "variant of 撤销". Does that imply that 撤销 is the proper way and 撤消 is perhaps a common misspelling?

Are they both acceptable? Is one of them preferred?

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 撤销 is the preferred one. 撤消 is a modern misspelling but accepted for many people use it.  
> **username_1**: 消 is the common form meaning "dissapear" "eliminate". But 销 is used in many certain collocations such as 销声匿迹 销假 销毁 销刃 销沉 etc.  
> **username_0**: @TooskyHierot Would you like to write that up as an answer?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-09-24. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

the standard form is 撤销 according to [现代汉语规范词典第3版](http://www.jiaodui.com/bbs/simple/?t9865.html)

销 has the meaning to destroy, 撤销 is to destroy the current changes  
消 has a passive meaning. Since 撤消 is an active action, 撤销 is more proper


---

