残
remainder, leftover, balance
Readings
On'yomi
- ザン
- サン
Kun'yomi
- のこ.る
- のこ.す
- そこな.う
- のこ.り
Meaning
残 centers on what remains after something is taken away or used up: a leftover, a remainder, or a balance. It captures the idea of something persisting when the rest is gone.
Most common words using 残
21 of 224- 残るのこるN4
to remain; to be left
- 残念ざんねんN5
regrettable; unfortunate; disappointing; vexing
- 残すのこすN4
to leave (behind)
- 残りのこりN3
remainder; remnant; the rest; what is left; balance; leftovers
- 残業ざんぎょうN4
overtime (work)
- 残酷ざんこくN1
cruel; brutal; ruthless; merciless; inhuman
- 残留ざんりゅう
staying behind; remaining; residual
- 生き残るいきのこる
to survive
- 生き残りいきのこり
survival
- 残虐ざんぎゃく
cruel; brutal; savage; barbarous
- 残高ざんだかN2
(bank) balance; remainder
- 名残なごりN1
remains; traces; vestiges; relics
- 残忍ざんにん
brutal; cruel; merciless; ruthless; cold-blooded
- 残存ざんぞん
survival; remaining; being extant; being left
- 無残むざんN1
cruel; merciless; atrocious; ruthless; cold-blooded
- 残暑ざんしょN1
late summer heat; lingering summer heat
- 名残惜しいなごりおしいN1
reluctant (to part)
- 残塁ざんるい
left on base
- 残った分のこったぶん
amount left over; remaining portion
- 取り残すとりのこす
to leave behind
- 残らずのこらずN2
all; entirely; completely; without exception
Study
Etymology
残 combines 歹 (death, damage) with 戋, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of smallness or reduction. Together they suggest something diminished or left over after loss.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 歹 suggests death or damage, and the right side 戋 looks like two spears. Imagine a battle where most warriors are gone, and only a few damaged remnants remain: that is the leftover, the remainder.
Reading mnemonic
For ザン, picture a Zen monk sweeping away everything, but a small pile of dust remains: Zen -> ザン, and that leftover dust is the remainder.