Residual magnetism (shèng cí) refers to the magnetism that remains in a ferromagnetic material—such as iron or steel—after an external magnetic field is removed. The character 剩 (shèng) means 'remaining' or 'leftover', while 磁 (cí) means 'magnetism' or 'magnetic'. Together, they literally convey 'remaining magnetism'. This term is used primarily in physics, engineering, and materials science, especially when discussing magnetic hysteresis, data storage devices, or electromagnetic safety.

In practical contexts, residual magnetism can affect instrument accuracy, cause unintended attraction of metal debris, or interfere with sensitive electronic equipment. It’s commonly measured in units like gauss or tesla and is a key parameter in designing transformers, motors, and MRI machines. While not part of everyday conversation, it appears frequently in technical documentation, maintenance manuals, and university-level physics courses.