Meanings of 多余
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Podcast: 多余
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AI Study Notes for 多余
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pronunciation of 多余
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Component Characters
How to say superfluous in Chinese
“superfluous” in Chinese is多余
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.
When to use 多余
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.
多余 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 多余
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Practice writing 多余 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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.
Fill the gap
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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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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).
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