About
The character "除" is structured with the radical "阝", originating from "阜" which denotes a mound or terrain feature, combined with the component "余" that functions phonetically while implying a sense of surplus or remainder. This construction initially conveyed the idea of removing or clearing away, likely drawn from the tangible concept of leveling land or eliminating excess. Over time, its semantic scope expanded beyond physical removal to include the mathematical operation of division, where it represents the partitioning of a whole into equal parts, and it further grammaticalized into a preposition meaning "except" or "besides", used to denote exclusion within a set. These developments show how the character's core notion of separation adapted to both quantitative and logical domains, enriching its linguistic utility without departing from its foundational imagery.
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。