剩 (shèng) - Remainder, surplus, leftover & to leave as remainder

剩Tone 4

shèng ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

上姝

剩 · shèng

Remainder, surplus, leftover;

to leave as remainder;

to have surplus.

Remainder, surplus, leftoverto leave as remainderto have surplus.

Usage highlights

RemainderLeftover foodLeftover dishesSurplus goodsRemaining amountLeftover people

Synonyms

  • 余— surplus, remainder
  • 残— remaining, fragmentary

Antonyms

  • 缺— lack, shortage
  • 少— few, little
  • 欠— owe, deficient

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There are three apples left (剩下三个苹果).
  • The remaining tasks will be completed tomorrow (剩余任务明天完成).
  • This is leftover food from yesterday (这是昨天的剩饭).
  • We have surplus materials (我们有剩余材料).

Collocations

  • Remainder(剩余)
  • Leftover food(剩饭)
  • Leftover dishes(剩菜)
  • Surplus goods(剩货)
  • Remaining amount(剩量)
  • Leftover people(剩人)

Idioms

  • Leftover men and leftover women(剩男剩女)
  • Surplus value(剩余价值)
  • Leftover women(剩女)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In modern Chinese society, '剩' carries negative connotations when referring to unmarried people over certain ages ('剩男剩女').
  • The character reflects traditional values emphasizing marriage and family completion.
  • Economically, '剩余价值' (surplus value) is a key Marxist concept in Chinese political economy.

FAQ