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March 24, 2026
除chú(chu2)
The character 除 (chú) primarily means 'to eliminate' or 'to remove.' It is often used in contexts where something is being taken away, excluded, or divided. This character can be found in both formal and informal situations, especially in discussions about cleaning, organizing, or mathematical division.
Strokes9Radical阝Frequency#3612DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of 除 is often associated with traditional Chinese practices like 清理 (qīng lǐ - cleaning) during festivals, where removing the old is seen as making space for the new. This reflects the cultural value placed on renewal and organization.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef (the left radical '阝' resembles a chef's hat) removing (除) unwanted ingredients from a dish. The sound 'chú' can remind you of 'chew,' as if you're chewing away what you don't want. Visualizing a chef skillfully eliminating the unnecessary can help solidify the meaning.
Meanings of 除
chú(chu2)
1to get rid of
2to remove
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 除
除Simplified
9Strokes
阝Radical
介词jiècípreposition (prep.)Part of Speech
#3612Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 除
Podcast: 除
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AI Study Notes for 除
Quick Contrast
减 (jiǎn, to subtract) — use 除 when referring to removing or eliminating altogether, rather than just reducing a quantity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef (the left radical '阝' resembles a chef's hat) removing (除) unwanted ingredients from a dish. The sound 'chú' can remind you of 'chew,' as if you're chewing away what you don't want. Visualizing a chef skillfully eliminating the unnecessary can help solidify the meaning.
Usage Notes
Be aware of the context in which you use 除, as it can imply different actions like eliminating or excluding. Common collocations include 除掉 (chú diào - to get rid of), 除外 (chú wài - except), and 除去 (chú qù - to remove). Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other characters.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 除 connects with other advanced vocabulary that discusses actions of elimination or exclusion. Students should focus on its usage in complex sentences and phrases, especially those related to mathematics or logical reasoning.
Cultural Note
The concept of 除 is often associated with traditional Chinese practices like 清理 (qīng lǐ - cleaning) during festivals, where removing the old is seen as making space for the new. This reflects the cultural value placed on renewal and organization.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 除 with similar characters like 去 (qù) which also means 'to go' or 'to remove.' For instance, saying '我去掉这些' (Wǒ qù diào zhèxiē) is incorrect; it should be '我除掉这些' (Wǒ chú diào zhèxiē).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 除
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Grammar Patterns of 除
除 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Watersports enthusiasts should consider hiring a wetsuit as well as a lifejacket.
10
她声称在晋升时自己被一次又一次地排除在外。
tā shēng chēng zài jìn shēng shí zì jǐ bèi yī cì yòu yī cì dì pái chú zài wài。
She claimed she was repeatedly passed over for promotion.
Cultural Notes for 除
💡Did you know?
The character 除 (chú) has connections to both eliminating and dividing. In ancient times, it was often associated with tasks like clearing land for farming, reflecting the importance of cultivation in Chinese culture.
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of 除 is often associated with traditional Chinese practices like 清理 (qīng lǐ - cleaning) during festivals, where removing the old is seen as making space for the new. This reflects the cultural value placed on renewal and organization.
Word Family of 除
Compounds3
滁Chu2a district in Anhui province
篨
蒢
Words Containing This Character20
除了chúlebesides
除非chúfēionly when
除chúto remove
消除xiāochúto eliminate
排除páichúto eliminate
开除kāichúto fire (an employee)開除
解除jiěchúto remove
切除qiēchúto excise
清除qīngchúto clear away
除此之外chúcǐzhīwàiapart from this
除掉to eliminate
删除shānchúto delete刪除
拆除chāichúto tear down
除去chúqùto eliminate
扣除kòuchúto deduct
去除qùchúto remove
除外chúwàito exclude
除夕chúxīlunar New Year's Eve
废除fèichúto abolish廢除
免除miǎnchúto prevent
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 滁 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 除
Common phrases using 除 include 除了 (chú le) meaning 'besides' or 'in addition to', and 除去 (chú qù) meaning 'to remove' or 'to eliminate'. Understanding these phrases can help you use 除 more effectively in conversation.
除 (chú) focuses on removing or eliminating something, while 去 (qù) generally means to go away or leave. They can overlap in meaning in certain contexts, but 除 is more specific to the act of removal.
除 (chú) means to get rid of, remove, or eliminate something. It can also refer to dividing in mathematical contexts. This character is commonly used in various expressions and phrases in Chinese.
You can use 除 (chú) in a sentence to indicate removing something, such as '我想除掉这个问题' (I want to get rid of this problem). In mathematical contexts, you might say '10除以2等于5' (10 divided by 2 equals 5).
You can say '我想除掉这些旧东西' (Wǒ xiǎng chú diào zhèxiē jiù dōngxi) meaning 'I want to get rid of these old things.'
No, 除 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but its meaning may change slightly depending on the formality.
Synonyms include 去 (qù - to go, to remove) and 摆脱 (bǎi tuō - to rid oneself of).
