除却 (chú què) — to remove, to get rid of, to root out (literary)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to remove, eliminate, or root out' (habits, risks, distractions). Use it for abstract or thorough elimination; 消除 is more common for everyday removal of concrete things.

verb
to removeto get rid ofto root out (literary)

Examples

  • 除却，。
    Zhǐ yǒu chú què xīn zhōng de zá niàn, cái néng zhuān zhù.
    Only by removing distracting thoughts from your mind can you stay focused.
  • 除却。
    Tā jué xīn chú què yí qiè bù liáng xí guàn.
    He resolved to root out all bad habits.
  • 除却。
    Zhè ge fāng àn chú què le suǒ yǒu qián zài fēng xiǎn.
    This plan eliminates all potential risks.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

除chúremove
却quèaway/off

“除” means remove, and “却” adds the sense of away or off; together they mean to remove.

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.

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.

Open 除 →

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 卻; 却 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
卩卩jié
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧮫
𧮫𧮫卻què
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 卻 uses 𧮫 for sound and 卩 for meaning; the simplified 却 is a shorthand.

Open 却 →

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