Definitions
(noun)
remain; surplus
(adjective)
excessive; remaining; extra
Etymology
Pictograph of a small shelter. Based on the original meaning "residence", now written as 舍. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "余" in its earliest forms represented the concept of a thatched hut or simple dwelling, a meaning now entirely obsolete. Its structure, often analyzed as a combination of elements suggesting a person under a roof, provided a foundation for semantic extension rather than literal representation. From this concrete origin, its meaning abstracted to signify "surplus" or "that which remains", such as extra grain or time, reflecting a shift from a physical object to an abstract relational concept. Concurrently, and quite independently, this character was borrowed for its sound to serve as a first-person pronoun in classical literary Chinese, creating a lasting parallel usage where "余" could mean either "I" or "remaining". This dual function has persisted, with the quantitative meaning remaining primary in modern vernacular usage while the pronominal form is largely relegated to historical or classical contexts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我有多余的时间。
业余爱好让我快乐。
剩余的食物放在冰箱里。
他业余时间学习英语。
这本书多余的部分可以删掉。
余额不足，请充值。
除了工作，余下的时间我都用来休息。
在余下的旅程中，我们需要小心。