除 (chú) - To remove, eliminate, get rid of & except, besides

除Tone 2

chú ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 阝

橙丁

除 · chú

To remove, eliminate, get rid of;

except, besides;

in mathematics, to divide;

to clean, clear away;

to exterminate.

To remove, eliminate, get rid ofexcept, besidesin mathematics, to divide

Usage highlights

Remove weedsGet rid of evilExcept forMathematical divisionEliminate troubleClear away frost

Synonyms

  • 去— to remove, to go away
  • 消— to eliminate, to disappear
  • 排— to exclude, to discharge

Antonyms

  • 加— to add, to increase
  • 留— to keep, to remain
  • 存— to preserve, to store

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Remove weeds from the garden (除草).
  • Except for Monday, I'm free all week (除星期一外).
  • Divide 10 by 2 equals 5 (10除以2等于5).
  • Clean the snow from the road (除雪).

Collocations

  • Remove weeds(除草)
  • Get rid of evil(除恶)
  • Except for(除了)
  • Mathematical division(除法)
  • Eliminate trouble(除害)
  • Clear away frost(除霜)

Idioms

  • Eliminate evil and promote good(除暴安良)
  • Remove the old to make way for the new(除旧布新)
  • Cut the grass and eliminate the roots(斩草除根)
  • Eliminate harm for the people(为民除害)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, 除 is associated with purification rituals, especially during festivals like Chinese New Year when people 'remove the old' (除旧) to welcome the new.
  • The character appears in 除夕 (New Year's Eve), literally 'remove evening,' marking the removal of the old year.
  • Mathematically, 除 represents division, one of the fundamental operations in Chinese mathematics education.

FAQ