除

• Pinyin: chú
• Hanzi breakdown: 除 = 阝(mound) + 余 (surplus) — to remove the surplus

Meaning

Besides; except for; in addition to. As a verb: to remove, eliminate, or divide.

As a preposition, 除 introduces exceptions or additions, often paired with 以外 or 之外. As a verb, it means to eliminate or get rid of something. In mathematics, it means to divide. This is a highly versatile word appearing in many fixed expressions like 除非 (unless) and 除夕 (New Year's Eve).

Examples

1. 除你之外，其他人都已经提交了报告。 Except for you, everyone else has already submitted their report.
2. 我们必须除掉这些杂草，不然会影响农作物生长。 We must remove these weeds, otherwise they will affect crop growth.
3. 除周末外，这家店每天都营业。 Except for weekends, this store is open every day.

Usage Guide

Context: formal writing, everyday speech, mathematics

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 除了中文，她还会说法语和日语。(Besides Chinese, she also speaks French and Japanese.)
• 十二除以三等于四。(Twelve divided by three equals four.)

Don't Say

• 除我喜欢游泳。(Incomplete — 除 needs 以外/之外 or a complete structure like 除了...还/也...)

Origin & History

Originally depicted a pestle used for pounding grain, symbolizing the act of removing husks. Extended to mean removing or eliminating, then further to express exclusion or exception.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal