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扣除 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
扣除kòuchúto deductHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #16453, Very Hard
kòuchú(kou4chu2)kou chu T4
  1. 1to deduct
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March 24, 2026

扣除kòuchú(kou4chu2)

扣除 (kòu chú) means 'to deduct' or 'to subtract' in financial contexts. It often refers to the removal of a certain amount from a total, such as tax deductions from income or expenses from profits. This term is commonly used in accounting and budgeting discussions.

Strokes15Frequency#16453DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

扣除 is often referenced during tax season in China, where individuals must understand how deductions work to maximize their returns. The concept of deducting expenses is crucial for both personal and corporate finance in Chinese society.

Memory tip

Think of 扣 (kòu) as 'hooking' away something, and 除 (chú) relates to 'removing' or 'clearing'. Imagine a fisherman hooking a fish and then removing it from the water, representing the act of deduction in financial situations.

Meanings of 扣除

kòuchú(kou4chu2)
1to deduct
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About 扣除

扣除Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 扣除

Quick Contrast

扣减 (kòu jiǎn) refers specifically to 'cutting down' or 'reducing' an amount, often implying a more significant decrease than 扣除, which is more about the act of deduction without necessarily implying a large reduction.

Usage Notes

扣除 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in finance and legal matters. Common collocations include '扣除税款' (kòu chú shuì kuǎn - to deduct taxes) and '扣除费用' (kòu chú fèi yòng - to deduct expenses). Be careful with the tones; mispronouncing either character can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

扣除 is not on the HSK list but is relevant for learners at the intermediate level who are dealing with financial vocabulary. Focus on recognizing it in written texts and practice using it in sentences related to finance.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 扣除 incorrectly in casual conversations, where a simpler term like 减去 (jiǎn qù) would be more appropriate. Another error is misusing it in contexts unrelated to finance, such as saying '扣除朋友' (incorrect) instead of '减去朋友' (correct).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 扣除

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Component characters

扣kòuto fasten
HSK 66 strokes扌
View full entry
除chúto get rid of
HSK 69 strokes阝
View full entry

How to say to deduct in Chinese

“to deduct” in Chinese is扣除kòuchú

扣除 (kòu chú) means 'to deduct' or 'to subtract' in financial contexts. It often refers to the removal of a certain amount from a total, such as tax deductions from income or expenses from profits. This term is commonly used in accounting and budgeting discussions.

When to use 扣除

扣除 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in finance and legal matters. Common collocations include '扣除税款' (kòu chú shuì kuǎn - to deduct taxes) and '扣除费用' (kòu chú fèi yòng - to deduct expenses). Be careful with the tones; mispronouncing either character can change the meaning.

扣除 or something close to it

扣减 (kòu jiǎn) refers specifically to 'cutting down' or 'reducing' an amount, often implying a more significant decrease than 扣除, which is more about the act of deduction without necessarily implying a large reduction.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 扣除 incorrectly in casual conversations, where a simpler term like 减去 (jiǎn qù) would be more appropriate. Another error is misusing it in contexts unrelated to finance, such as saying '扣除朋友' (incorrect) instead of '减去朋友' (correct).

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扣
除

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Frequently asked questions about 扣除

You can say '我的工资在扣除税款后是...' (Wǒ de gōngzī zài kòuchú shuìkuǎn hòu shì... - 'My salary after tax deductions is...').

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