Cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction of bis(4-nitrophenyl)carbonate (1) but inhibits that of bis(4-nitrophenyl)thiocarbonate (2). Two relevant CB7 effects are proposed, a base-catalyst mediated by the CB7 portal and an inhibitory role attributed to the lower interaction of the thiocarbonyl group with the solvent in the host cavity, respectively.