余 yú — extra; surplus; remaining; after; I; me
做完作业后，我还有一些空余时间。Zuò wán zuò yè hòu, wǒ hái yǒu yì xiē kòng yú shí jiān.After finishing my homework, I still have some free time.
Common words: 其余 (qí yú)、业余 (yè yú)、多余 (duō yú)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "surplus"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "surplus", including 余 (yú), 盈 (yíng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "surplus" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 余 (yú), 盈 (yíng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span yú, yíng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 余 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 余 yúextra; surplus; remaining; after; I; meUseful words: 其余, 业余
- 盈 yíngfull; filled; surplusUseful words: 盈利, 热泪盈眶
Common words for these 2 "surplus" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 余 (yú) — so "surplus" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
其余qí yúthe rest; the others; remaining; remainder业余yè yúin one's spare time; outside working hours; amateur (historian etc)多余duō yúsuperfluous; unnecessary; surplus盈利yíng lìprofit; gain; to make profits热泪盈眶rè lèi yíng kuàngeyes brimming with tears of excitement (idiom); extremely moved盈门yíng ménlit. fill the door; fill the house (at a wedding or auspicious occasion)
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "surplus".
盈 yíng — full; filled; surplus
中秋节的夜晚，月色盈满了整个院子。Zhōng qiū jié de yè wǎn, yuè sè yíng mǎn le zhěng ge yuàn zi.On Mid-Autumn night, the moonlight filled the whole yard.
Common words: 盈利 (yíng lì)、热泪盈眶 (rè lèi yíng kuàng)、盈门 (yíng mén)
All 2 characters
Open 余、盈 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.