除 (chú) — (verb) to remove; to eliminate; (verb) to divide; (preposition) except; besides (usually in 除…以外/外)
Definition
Chú has two distinct uses: as a verb meaning 'to remove' (more formal/literary than 清除 or 排除, which sound more active and concrete), and as a preposition meaning 'except' in set phrases like 除…以外. For everyday 'except', 除了 is far more common.
verb
to removeto eliminateto divide
preposition
exceptbesides (usually in 除…以外/外)
Examples
- 除，。chú Zhōu mò wài, wǒ měi tiān dōu yào shàng bān.Except on weekends, I have to go to work every day.
- 。Qǐng chú diào chuāng hu shàng de huī chén.Please remove the dust from the window.
- 。Shí chú yǐ wǔ děng yú èr.Ten divided by five equals two.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú除chú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
除 is built from 阜 and 余, with 余 giving the sound.
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