剰 (shèng) - Remainder, surplus & to remain

剰Tone 4

shèng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

上姝

剰 · shèng

Remainder, surplus;

to remain;

to be left over;

superfluous.

Remainder, surplusto remainto be left over

Usage highlights

RemainderLeftoverSurplusRedundant personnelExcess profitRemaining amount

Synonyms

  • 余— surplus, remainder
  • 剩— leftover, remainder

Antonyms

  • 缺— lack, shortage
  • 欠— owe, deficient

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There is some food left over (剰余的食物).
  • He has surplus income (剰余收入).
  • Only three people remained (只剰下三个人).
  • This is an additional benefit (剰余的好处).

Collocations

  • Remainder(剰余)
  • Leftover(剰下)
  • Surplus(剰余)
  • Redundant personnel(剰员)
  • Excess profit(剰余利润)
  • Remaining amount(剰额)

Idioms

  • To have energy to spare(游刃有剰)
  • More than enough(绰绰有剰)
  • To have surplus strength(力有剰裕)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 剰 is composed of 乘 (to ride/multiply) and 刀 (knife), suggesting 'cutting from what has been multiplied' - hence the meaning of surplus or remainder.
  • In business contexts, 剰余 often refers to profits or surplus after expenses.
  • The concept of 'having surplus' is generally viewed positively in Chinese culture, indicating abundance and prosperity.

FAQ