开除

• Pinyin: kāi chú
• Hanzi breakdown: 开 = to open, separate; 除 = mound (阝) + 余 (surplus) — to remove, eliminate

Meaning

To expel; to dismiss; to fire (from a job or school).

A formal term for removing someone from an organization — firing an employee, expelling a student, or dismissing a member. More severe than 解雇 (layoff) as it often implies wrongdoing. Collocates with 学籍 (student status), 党籍 (party membership), 公职 (public office), 员工 (employee).

Examples

1. 他因严重违反公司规章制度，被立即开除并取消了所有未发放的奖金。 He was immediately fired for serious violations of company rules and regulations, with all unpaid bonuses cancelled.
2. 这名学生屡次作弊，学校最终决定开除他的学籍。 This student cheated repeatedly, and the school ultimately decided to expel him.
3. 该官员因贪腐问题被开除党籍和公职，移送司法机关处理。 The official was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for corruption, and handed over to judicial authorities.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, education, official

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他被公司开除了。(He was fired from the company.)
• 开除学籍是最严厉的处分。(Expulsion is the most severe punishment.)

Don't Say

• 我开除了我的旧衣服。(开除 is for dismissing people from organizations — for getting rid of things, use 扔掉 or 处理掉)

Origin & History

开 (to open, separate) + 除 (to remove, eliminate). To separate and remove from a group.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal