TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
除
除 ＝ 阝 ＋ 余
ㄔㄨˊ · chú
verb — to remove, take away; to divide (除法); except (除了)
字源 FORM — what the parts do
阝義a mound, steps cut into it (the left 阜)
余聲yú — gives the sound
IT≠yú → chú
Steps cut into a mound (阝) — the palace stairs. 余 yú carries the sound, shifted to chú. From clearing a step you walk up: to take away, to subtract, to leave out — 除去、除法、除了.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
殿前石階（阝）掃乾淨，落葉一級一級除掉。
The palace steps (阝) swept clean, the fallen leaves cleared off one stair at a time.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)殿除、台階— palace steps; a terrace
→除去、除掉— to remove, clear away常用
⇒除法、相除— to divide (in arithmetic)常用
⇒除了— except, besides常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension