扣除

• Pinyin: kòu chú
• Hanzi breakdown: 扣 = 扌(hand) + 口 (mouth); 除 = 阝(mound) + 余 (surplus)

Meaning

To deduct; to withhold. Taking away a portion from a total, typically for taxes, fees, or penalties.

Commonly used in financial and administrative contexts for payroll deductions, tax withholdings, or penalty subtractions. The action is typically legitimate and authorized, unlike 克扣 which implies improper withholding.

Examples

1. 扣除五险一金后，实际到手工资只有六千多。 After deducting the five insurances and housing fund, the actual take-home pay is only a bit over six thousand.
2. 违规停车将被扣除三分并罚款两百元。 Illegal parking will result in a three-point deduction and a two-hundred yuan fine.
3. 这笔费用可以从应纳税额中扣除。 This expense can be deducted from the taxable amount.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, taxation, payroll

Tone: business

Do Say

• 税前工资扣除社保后才是实发工资。(The actual salary is what you get after social insurance is deducted from the pre-tax amount.)
• 这笔捐款可以扣除税款。(This donation is tax-deductible.)

Don't Say

• 把扣除用于非正式语境，如'扣除你的零花钱'。(Don't use 扣除 for informal contexts like pocket money — use 扣 or 减 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 扣 (deduct/button) + 除 (remove/divide). Together meaning to remove by deduction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal