除了...以外 (chúle...yǐwài) — Besides / Except
Including or excluding items from a group
Category: Grammar
The Rule
除了 X 以外 has two meanings: (1) 'besides/in addition to X' (inclusive, with 也/还) and (2) 'except for X' (exclusive, with 都). Context and the follow-up word determine which meaning applies.
Why This Matters
This structure confuses English speakers because 'besides' and 'except' are nearly opposite meanings in English, yet Chinese uses the SAME structure for both! The trick: if the follow-up clause has 也 (also) or 还 (additionally), it's INCLUSIVE. If it has 都 (all), it's EXCLUSIVE. Master this distinction and you'll avoid a very common error.
Examples
• 除了中文以外，我还会说日文。(Chúle zhōngwén yǐwài, wǒ hái huì shuō rìwén.) — "Besides Chinese, I can also speak Japanese." [INCLUSIVE: 还 signals 'in addition to' — I speak both] • 除了他以外，大家都去了。(Chúle tā yǐwài, dàjiā dōu qù le.) — "Except for him, everyone went." [EXCLUSIVE: 都 signals 'all except' — he didn't go] • 除了周末以外，我每天都工作。(Chúle zhōumò yǐwài, wǒ měitiān dōu gōngzuò.) — "Except for weekends, I work every day." [EXCLUSIVE: weekends are excluded] • 除了游泳以外，她也喜欢跑步。(Chúle yóuyǒng yǐwài, tā yě xǐhuan pǎobù.) — "Besides swimming, she also likes running." [INCLUSIVE: 也 signals both are liked]
Common Mistakes
❌ 除了他以外，大家也去了 (也 + everyone = confusing) ✅ 除了他以外，大家都去了 (都 for exclusive) → If you mean 'except for him', use 都 (everyone else). Using 也 would illogically suggest 'in addition to him, everyone also went' — which means he went too! ❌ Dropping 以外: 除了周末我每天工作 ✅ 除了周末以外，我每天都工作 is clearer → 以外 can technically be omitted in casual speech, but keeping it makes the sentence clearer, especially for learners.
Quick Tip
Key memory trick: 也/还 after 除了 = BESIDES (inclusive, adding). 都 after 除了 = EXCEPT (exclusive, subtracting).
Key memory trick: 也/还 after 除了 = BESIDES (inclusive, adding). 都 after 除了 = EXCEPT (exclusive, subtracting).
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 除了他以外，大家也去了 (也 + everyone = confusing) → Correct: 除了他以外，大家都去了 (都 for exclusive). If you mean 'except for him', use 都 (everyone else). Using 也 would illogically suggest 'in addition to him, everyone also went' — which means he went too!
Incorrect: Dropping 以外: 除了周末我每天工作 → Correct: 除了周末以外，我每天都工作 is clearer. 以外 can technically be omitted in casual speech, but keeping it makes the sentence clearer, especially for learners.
Quiz
除了她以外，我们都去了 means: