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馀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
馀yúsurplus, remainder, excessg, 10 strokes, radical 饣, rank #34767, Very Hard
馀yúsurname Yuunknown, 10 strokes, radical 饣, rank #34767, Very Hard
yú(Yu2)yu T2
  1. 1surplus, remainder, excess
Also a Chinese surname, Yu — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

馀(餘)yú(Yu2)

The character 馀 (yú) signifies surplus, remainder, or excess. It is often used to describe something that is left over after a part has been taken away, such as leftover food or additional resources. It can also be a surname in Chinese culture, adding to its versatility in usage.

Strokes10Radical饣Frequency#34767DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of surplus is significant, especially during festivals like the Lunar New Year, where leftover food symbolizes abundance and prosperity for the coming year.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large plate of food with a big leftover section. The character 馀 resembles the plate (with its rounded top) holding the surplus food inside it. The 'yú' pronunciation sounds like 'you', as in 'you have some leftovers!'

Meanings of 馀

yú(Yu2)
1surplus, remainder, excess
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 馀 means.

About 馀

馀Simplified
餘Traditional
10Strokes
饣Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 馀

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Podcast: 馀

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AI Study Notes for 馀

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 馀 with its homophones or similar characters, such as 余 (yú), which also means 'surplus' but is more commonly used in formal contexts. Remember that 馀 is less formal and can be used in everyday conversations about leftovers and excess items. Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 馀 is not included in the official HSK list, its meaning aligns with the themes of excess and remainder in basic vocabulary. Students should focus on differentiating it from other similar-sounding words and understanding its practical applications in daily life.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 馀 in overly formal contexts where 余 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我们有很多馀的钱' (We have a lot of surplus money) is incorrect; it should be '我们有很多余的钱'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 馀

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Etymology of 馀

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Extra 余 food 饣; 余 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 馀?

Decomposition of 馀

IDS Structure⿰饣余
馀Full Character
=
饣shi2
left
余Yu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 馀?

How to say surplus, remainder, excess in Chinese

“surplus, remainder, excess” in Chinese is馀yú

The character 馀 (yú) signifies surplus, remainder, or excess. It is often used to describe something that is left over after a part has been taken away, such as leftover food or additional resources. It can also be a surname in Chinese culture, adding to its versatility in usage.

When to use 馀

Learners often confuse 馀 with its homophones or similar characters, such as 余 (yú), which also means 'surplus' but is more commonly used in formal contexts. Remember that 馀 is less formal and can be used in everyday conversations about leftovers and excess items. Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 馀 in overly formal contexts where 余 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我们有很多馀的钱' (We have a lot of surplus money) is incorrect; it should be '我们有很多余的钱'.

Write 馀

馀

Practice writing 馀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 馀

馀 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

若你从十拿走了七, 剩____的部分是什麽?

If you take 7 from 10, what is the remainder?

Example Sentences for 馀 (5)

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1
若你从十拿走了七, 剩馀的部分是什麽?

ruò nǐ cóng shí ná zǒu le qī, , shèng yú de bù fēn shì shí?

If you take 7 from 10, what is the remainder?
2
举例来说, 新生的恒星四周会环绕著剩馀物质所构成的气盘.

jǔ lì lái shuō, , xīn shēng de héng xīng sì zhōu huì huán rào zhù shèng yú wù zhì suǒ gòu chéng de qì.

Newborn stars, for instance, are surrounded by disks of leftover material.
3
而在高压氧治疗后, 剩馀手指坏疽改善.

ér zài gāo yā yǎng zhì liáo hòu, , shèng yú shǒu zhǐ huài jū gǎi.

After hyperbaric oxygen therapy was given , digital gangrene improved.
4
维修之后,主要遗骸和剩馀物留在了领地上.

wéi xiū zhī hòu, , zhǔ yào yí hái hé shèng yú wù liú zài le lǐng dì.

After maintenance the main remains and are left on the domain.
5
我们要是有一间富馀的卧室就好了 ( 如给客人用 ).

wǒ mén yào shì yǒu yī jiān fù yú de wò shì jiù hǎo le( ( rú gěi kè rén).

I wish we had a spare room , ie an extra bedroom ( eg for guests ).

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Word Family of 馀

Words Containing This Character2
馀yúsurname Yu餘
扶馀Fuyu county in Songyuan 松原, Jilin扶餘
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 馀

What does 扶馀 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 馀

While both characters mean 'surplus', 馀 is used in more casual contexts, whereas 余 is often used in literary or formal situations.

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