剩

• Pinyin: shèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 剩 = 乘 (ride/multiply, phonetic) + 刂(knife)

Meaning

To remain; to be left over; leftover.

Indicates what remains after something has been used, consumed, or taken away. Can describe leftover food, remaining time, or surviving people. Often followed by 下 to form 剩下. Different from 余 which is more formal.

Examples

1. 钱包里只剩五块钱了，得省着点花。 There's only five yuan left in my wallet — I need to spend carefully.
2. 饭菜剩了不少，明天热一热再吃吧。 Quite a bit of food is left over — let's heat it up and eat it tomorrow.
3. 原来十个人，现在就剩我们三个了。 Originally there were ten people; now only the three of us are left.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, food, resources

Tone: factual

Do Say

• 还剩多少时间？(How much time is left?)
• 把剩饭吃完。(Finish the leftover rice.)

Don't Say

• 我剩了回家 — 剩 doesn't mean 'remain to do something'; that would need a different structure

Origin & History

Contains 刂(knife radical) suggesting cutting away, with 乘 as phonetic component. What remains after cutting.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal