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March 24, 2026
多余(多餘)duōyú(duo1yu2)
多余 (duōyú) refers to something that is excessive or not needed in a particular context. It is often used to describe items, actions, or even feelings that are deemed unnecessary or superfluous, highlighting their lack of value in a given situation.
Frequency#5736DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of excess is often viewed negatively, especially in relation to resources and consumption. The idea of 多余 reflects a cultural value on efficiency and moderation, which can be seen in various aspects of daily life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large pile of extra food on a table at a banquet, which you call '多余'. The character 多 suggests 'many' or 'more', while 余 signals 'left over' or 'excess'. Picture yourself saying, 'This food is多余, we don’t need all of this!'
Meanings of 多余
duōyú(duo1yu2)
1superfluous
2unnecessary
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 多余
多余Simplified
多餘Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5736Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 多余
Podcast: 多余
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AI Study Notes for 多余
Quick Contrast
冗余 (rǒngyú) — use 多余 (duōyú) for unnecessary in a general sense, while 冗余 (rǒngyú) often refers specifically to redundancy in systems or processes.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large pile of extra food on a table at a banquet, which you call '多余'. The character 多 suggests 'many' or 'more', while 余 signals 'left over' or 'excess'. Picture yourself saying, 'This food is多余, we don’t need all of this!'
Usage Notes
Be careful not to use 多余 in overly formal contexts where alternatives like 不必要 (bú bì yào) might be more appropriate. Common collocations include 多余的时间 (duōyú de shíjiān - surplus time) or 多余的开支 (duōyú de kāizhī - unnecessary expenses). Remember that the tone of 多余 is the second tone for 多 and the second tone for 余, so practice to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, 多余 can be connected with other adjectives describing quantity or necessity such as 必要 (bìyào - necessary) or 充足 (chōngzú - sufficient). Focus on using it in sentences to express redundancy or excess in various contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of excess is often viewed negatively, especially in relation to resources and consumption. The idea of 多余 reflects a cultural value on efficiency and moderation, which can be seen in various aspects of daily life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 多余 with 过剩 (guòshèng - surplus) but they differ in nuance; 多余 implies unnecessary excess while 过剩 indicates simply being greater than needed. For example, saying '这个是过剩的' would be incorrect if you want to express that something is unnecessary; use '这个是多余的' instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 多余
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Grammar Patterns of 多余
多余 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
用一把快刀切去____的饼皮。
Trim off the excess pastry using a sharp knife.
Example Sentences for 多余 (9)
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1
用一把快刀切去多余的饼皮。
yòng yī bǎ kuài dāo qiē qù duō yú de bǐng pí。
Trim off the excess pastry using a sharp knife.
2
壁橱最下面的抽屉里还有一条多余的毯子。
bì chú zuì xià miàn de chōu tì lǐ huán yǒu yī tiáo duō yú de tǎn zǐ。
There's an extra blanket in the bottom drawer of the cupboard.
3
平底锅的凸纹设计使多余的油能够控出。
píng dǐ guō de tū wén shè jì shǐ duō yú de yóu néng gòu kòng chū。
The ridged design of the pan allows excess fat to drain off.
Home owners who have extra space available may want to let out a room.
6
烹完鱼后，倒掉多余的油。
pēng wán yú hòu， ， dǎo diào duō yú de。
After cooking the fish, pour off any excess fat.
7
不消三十秒,所有借口全成了多余的废物.
bù xiāo sān shí miǎo, , suǒ yǒu jiè kǒu quán chéng le duō yú de fèi.
Within thirty seconds any pretence was always unnecessary.
8
用干净的湿绒布擦去多余的化妆品。
yòng gān jìng de shī róng bù cā qù duō yú de huà zhuāng pǐn。
Wipe off any excess make-up with a clean, moist cotton flannel.
9
先滗出多余的卤汁，把它当作浇汁的主料。
xiān bì chū duō yú de lǔ zhī， ， bǎ tā dāng zuò jiāo zhī de zhǔ。
Drain off any excess marinade and use it as a base for a pouring sauce.
Cultural Notes for 多余
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of excess is often viewed negatively, especially in relation to resources and consumption. The idea of 多余 reflects a cultural value on efficiency and moderation, which can be seen in various aspects of daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions about 多余
Yes, you can describe feelings as 多余 when they are unnecessary or excessive, such as feeling 多余的担心 (duōyú de dānxīn - unnecessary worry).
多余 is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure to adjust your tone according to the situation.
You can say '多余的物品' (duōyú de wùpǐn) to refer to surplus items.
