About
The traditional character 除 is composed of the left radical 阜, indicating a mound or steps, and the right phonetic component 余. Its original meaning was tied to the physical action of removing something, such as earth from a slope or steps ascending a hill, which is reflected in this structure. Over time, its meaning extended from literal removal to more abstract concepts of elimination, exclusion, and expulsion. In mathematics, it acquired the specific sense of division as a form of removal or partitioning. The character’s form remained largely consistent, and its semantic range broadened to include notions like "except" and "unless", deriving from its core idea of exclusion.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
除了他，我们都来了。
请删除这个文件。
排除所有可能性。
数学课上我们学习除法。
除去杂质，水变得更干净。
除此之外，我还有别的建议。
除了完成作业，他还预习了新课。
除非天气好转，否则比赛将被取消。