馀 meaning and stroke order
Surplus, remainder, excess
How to write 馀, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 馀
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- variant of 餘|余[yu2], remainder
How 馀 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Extra 余 food 饣; 余 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 饣 (food), shared by 43 characters on this site.
How to remember 馀
The food radical 饣 sits beside 余 (yú), so picture extra food left on the table after a meal. 余 also gives the sound yú.
In mainland simplified Chinese, 馀 is normally replaced by 余 in everyday writing, and 馀 appears mainly where 余 could be confused with its other meaning "I", such as in classical texts or certain names. You will see it in older or formal writing with the sense of "remainder" or "surplus". Example: 年年有馀 (nián nián yǒu yú), may there be surplus every year.
Common mistake: Learners often think 馀 is the standard simplified form of 餘, but standard usage writes 余, as in 其余 (qíyú, the rest). Also do not confuse it with 馁 (něi, hungry, disheartened), which shares the 饣 radical.
Questions about 馀
How many strokes are in 馀?
馀 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 馀 mean?
馀 (yú) means surplus, remainder, excess.
How do you pronounce 馀?
馀 is pronounced yú, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 馀?
The radical of 馀 is 饣, which carries the idea of "food". Dictionaries list 馀 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 馀?
The traditional form of 馀 is 餘. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 馀 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why does 年年有余 use the same sound as fish?
余 and 鱼 (yú, fish) are both pronounced yú. That is why fish are a New Year symbol, because they suggest having a surplus every year.
When should I write 馀 instead of 余?
Use 余 in almost all modern writing. 馀 is kept mainly when 余 could be misread as the old pronoun "I", for example in classical Chinese or in some names and set phrases.