Usage of 除
The character 除 (chú) primarily means "to remove" or "to get rid of." It is commonly used when talking about eliminating unwanted things, such as odors or problems. Another important use is in mathematics, where 除 means "to divide."
Common Collocations
- 除掉 (chú diào): to remove completely, often used with unpleasant things like smells or stains.
- 除以 (chú yǐ): to divide by, used in mathematical contexts.
- 除了 (chúle): except for, used to exclude something or someone from a group.
Nuances
When used as 除了, it functions as a preposition meaning "except" or "besides," which is different from the verb use. This word is formal and common in both spoken and written Chinese. Avoid confusing 除 with similar verbs like 去 (qù, to go) or 去除 (qùchú, to remove), where 去除 is more formal and often used in technical contexts.
Summary
除 is versatile: it can mean "to remove," "to divide," or "except." Pay attention to context to understand its exact meaning.