About
除 is a phono-semantic compound with the radical 阝 (mound/step) on the left and the component 余 (surplus, extra) on the right, which also provides the phonetic element. Its original meaning referred to the steps leading up to a hall or pavilion. This sense of ascending steps evolved metaphorically into the action of clearing or removing obstacles, giving rise to its core modern meanings: to remove, eliminate, or get rid of. In mathematics, this idea of distributing or taking away portions established its standard meaning for division.
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。