除きます（のぞきます、nozokimasu）
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The Japanese word 除きます, read as のぞきます (no-zo-ki-masu) in its polite form, primarily means "to exclude," "to remove," "to omit," "to except," or "to deduct." It implies the action of taking something out of a set, list, or calculation, leaving the rest. The meaning can vary slightly depending on context, but the core idea is always one of removing or excluding something. The base form of the verb is 除く (のぞく, nozoku), which also means "to remove" or "to eliminate." The 除きます form is the polite, present/future tense form.

⚫︎ 今回のテストは、先週の授業の内容除きます。 Translation: This test excludes the content of last week's class. ⚫︎ リストから不要な項目を除きます。 Translation: I will remove the unnecessary items from the list. ⚫︎ 税金除き、合計金額は5000円です。 Translation: Excluding tax, the total amount is 5000 yen.

⚫︎ 除きます is used when you want to specifically exclude something from consideration, a group, a list, or a calculation. ⚫︎ It's often used in formal situations or when speaking politely. ⚫︎ The word is very versatile, and can apply to physical removal or abstract exclusion.

⚫︎ The base form, 除く, is written with the kanji 除く. ⚫︎ The polite form 除きます is written with the kanji 除く followed by the hiragana suffix ます: 除きます. ⚫︎ The ます form indicates politeness. ⚫︎ The okurigana (the hiragana following the kanji) are consistently きます in the polite form.

⚫︎ 省く (はぶく, habuku) - to omit, to leave out ⚫︎ 取り除く (とりのぞく, torinozoku) - to remove (physically or figuratively) ⚫︎ 外す (はずす, hazusu) - to remove, to take off (can also mean to miss) ⚫︎ 免れる (まぬかれる, manukareru) - to escape from, to be exempt from. (This is used in cases of avoidance.)

⚫︎ 含める (ふくめる, fukumeru) - to include, to contain ⚫︎ 加える (くわえる, kuwaeru) - to add

この割引は、一部の商品を除きます。 ・Translation: This discount excludes some products. ・Explanation: This sentence clarifies that not all products are eligible for the discount. Some are 除き (excluded).

この費用は交通費を除き、宿泊費のみです。 ・Translation: This cost is only for lodging, excluding transportation expenses. ・Explanation: The sentence illustrates what is included (lodging) and what is 除き (excluded) (transportation costs).

The kanji 除く is composed of two parts: the radical 阝 (also seen as 阜), which is a common component in words related to mounds or slopes, and the phonetic component 余 (yo), meaning "surplus" or "remainder." The combination suggests the idea of getting rid of what is extra or unnecessary. The etymology doesn't give a literal explanation.