取り除く
とりのぞく · torinozoku · JLPT N1 · verb-godan
to remove
🧹 取る (take) + 除く (exclude) = take out and set apart, i.e. to remove
取る means take and 除く means get rid of or exclude. Joined, the verb reads as take and get rid of, which matches to remove or take away.
取 — ear 耳 + hand 又
取 originally depicted a hand (又) grasping an ear (耳), referencing the ancient practice of soldiers cutting off enemies' left ears as proof of kills to claim rewards. The meaning broadened from 'seize/take by force' to the general sense of 'take, get, obtain' used today.
除 — left ear/mound 阝 + surplus 余
除 combines the 'mound/steps' radical 阝 (originally 阜, a hill) with 余 as the phonetic. It first meant the steps of a palace, then extended to 'remove' or 'clear away' (as one sweeps steps clean), and later to mathematical 'divide.'