除了…以外

HSK 3

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

除了Object A以外, (Subject)都/也/还Verb/Adjective

The structure 除了…以外 is used to express the meaning of "besides…" or "except…", and can either include or exclude the object in question.

This structure is used to express an exception or an addition. There are two main cases:

Exclusion (except… ): When the following clause contains 都, it means "except for A, everything/everyone else…".

- 除了他以外，我们都去了。 (Except for him, we all went.)

Inclusion (in addition to… ): When the following clause contains 也 or 还, it means "besides A, there is also B, C…".

- 除了唱歌以外，我也喜欢跳舞。 (Besides singing, I also like dancing.)

除了他以外，我们都来了。
繁: 除了他以外，我們都來了。Chúle tā yǐwài, wǒmen dōu lái le.
Except for him, we all came.
除了米饭以外，我也喜欢吃面条。
繁: 除了米飯以外，我也喜歡吃麵條。Chúle mǐfàn yǐwài, wǒ yě xǐhuān chī miàntiáo.
Besides rice, I also like to eat noodles.
除了星期天以外，他每天都上班。
Chúle xīngqītiān yǐwài, tā měitiān dōu shàngbān.
Except for Sunday, he goes to work every day.
除了学习以外，你还应该多运动。
繁: 除了學習以外，你還應該多運動。Chúle xuéxí yǐwài, nǐ hái yīnggāi duō yùndòng.
Besides studying, you should also exercise more.
这个商店除了贵以外，没别的缺点。
繁: 這個商店除了貴以外，沒別的缺點。Zhège shāngdiàn chúle guì yǐwài, méi biéde quēdiǎn.
This shop has no other shortcomings besides being expensive.

Wrong:除了他，我们都来了。
Correct:除了他以外，我们都来了。
Although sometimes omitted in spoken language, the complete and correct structure always pairs `除了` with `以外`.
Wrong:除了苹果以外，我喜欢香蕉。
Correct:除了苹果以外，我也喜欢香蕉。
To express the meaning of 'include' (in addition to...also...), the second clause needs the adverb `也` (also) or `还` (still/also).