空余 (kòng yú) — spare; extra; free; unoccupied (used attributiv… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Used as an attributive adjective before a noun to mean 'spare / extra / unoccupied' (e.g. 空余时间, 空余房间). It only modifies the noun — it cannot serve as a predicate on its own.

adjective

spareextrafreeunoccupied (used attributively before a noun)

Examples

空余。
Tā yòng kòng yú shí jiān xué xí zhōng wén.
He uses his spare time to study Chinese.
空余。
Gōng sī hái yǒu jǐ jiān kòng yú bàn gōng shì.
The company still has a few vacant offices.
空余。
Zhè xiē kòng yú cái liào kě yǐ zài lì yòng.
These extra materials can be reused.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

余yúsurplus

空余 pairs 空, not occupied, with 余, left over.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

穴工空

Meaning part形符xíngfú

穴穴xuécave, hole

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng空kōng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 餘; 余 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

余

余yú餘Yú

Same sound today

The traditional form 餘 pairs 食 (food) with 余 as its sound part; the simplified 余 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

Quantity & Amount Time (Abstract)

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