除く

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 除く, read のぞく, joins the excluding or removing stem 除 with the verb ending く.
• Basic usage: 一覧から欠席者を除く means excluding someone, while 水から不純物を除く means removing a substance.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinguishing meanings
  • Both abstract exclusion from a set and physical removal of material use the removed item with を.