Chule Yiwai Chinese Grammar: 除了…以外 Except vs. Besides

In chule yiwai Chinese grammar, 除了…以外 (chúle…yǐwài) means "except" when the second half uses 都, and "besides" when it uses 还 or 也. So 除了他以外，我们都去了 means "everyone went except him," but 除了他以外，我也去了 means "besides him, I went too." The same opening, two opposite meanings.

除了…以外 is an HSK 3 pattern, and it is a favorite in the exam because it is so easy to misread. This article covers the "except" meaning, the "besides" meaning, how to choose between 还 and 也, when you can drop 以外, where to put the phrase, and negative sentences like 除了他，谁都不知道. You will also find a table, two dialogues, common mistakes and a quiz. For the other patterns at this level, see our HSK 3 grammar list.

Chule Yiwai Chinese Grammar: The Quick Answer

除了 means "apart from." It takes one thing and sets it to the side. The second half of the sentence then tells you what happens to everything else.

Compare these two sentences. They start the same way and end in opposite places:

除了小王以外，我们都去了。
- Pinyin: Chúle Xiǎo Wáng yǐwài, wǒmen dōu qù le.
- English: All of us went except Xiao Wang. (Xiao Wang didn't go.)
除了小王以外，小李也去了。
- Pinyin: Chúle Xiǎo Wáng yǐwài, Xiǎo Lǐ yě qù le.
- English: Besides Xiao Wang, Xiao Li went too. (Both of them went.)

Learners often call these two versions "chule dou" and "chule hai" (or "chule ye"), after the key word in the second half. Here is why it works. 都 means "all." If "all the others" did something, the one you set aside did not. 还 and 也 mean "also." If someone "also" did it, you are adding to the one you set aside, so it is included.

How to Say "Except" in Chinese: 除了…以外，都…

Use this when one thing is the exception and everything else is the same.

除了 + X (+ 以外)，Subject + 都 + Verb / Adjective

除了周日以外，这家店每天都开门。
- Pinyin: Chúle zhōurì yǐwài, zhè jiā diàn měitiān dōu kāimén.
- English: This shop is open every day except Sunday.
除了香菜，我什么都吃。
- Pinyin: Chúle xiāngcài, wǒ shénme dōu chī.
- English: I eat everything except coriander.
除了我以外，大家都是第一次来北京。
- Pinyin: Chúle wǒ yǐwài, dàjiā dōu shì dì-yī cì lái Běijīng.
- English: It's everyone's first time in Beijing except me.

Chinese speakers often add 其他 (qítā) or 别的 (bié de), "other," to make the "except" meaning even clearer:

除了小张，其他人都同意。
- Pinyin: Chúle Xiǎo Zhāng, qítā rén dōu tóngyì.
- English: Everyone agreed except Xiao Zhang.

How to Say "Besides" in Chinese: 除了…以外，还/也…

Use this when you want to add something. The thing after 除了 is true, and there is more.

除了 + X (+ 以外)，Subject + 还 / 也 + Verb

除了中文以外，她还会说日语。
- Pinyin: Chúle Zhōngwén yǐwài, tā hái huì shuō Rìyǔ.
- English: Besides Chinese, she also speaks Japanese.
除了长城以外，我们还去了故宫。
- Pinyin: Chúle Chángchéng yǐwài, wǒmen hái qù le Gùgōng.
- English: Besides the Great Wall, we also went to the Forbidden City.
除了工作以外，他每天还要照顾生病的妈妈。
- Pinyin: Chúle gōngzuò yǐwài, tā měitiān hái yào zhàogù shēngbìng de māma.
- English: On top of work, he also has to look after his sick mother every day.

除了…以外都 vs. 还/也: Which "Also" Word?

Both 还 and 也 give the "besides" meaning, but they tend to show up in slightly different places.

还 is the usual choice when the same person does or has one more thing. In the examples above, she speaks Chinese and she also speaks Japanese. Same person, one more skill.

也 is common when a new person or thing joins the group:

除了我以外，我妹妹也会弹钢琴。
- Pinyin: Chúle wǒ yǐwài, wǒ mèimei yě huì tán gāngqín.
- English: Besides me, my younger sister can play the piano too.

This is a tendency, not a strict rule. Native speakers often use 也 where you might expect 还, and the meaning stays the same. If you want to go deeper, our article on 也 vs. 还 compares the two words in many other sentences.

Dropping 以外: 除了…, 除了…以外 and 除了…之外

以外 is optional. All three of these are correct and mean the same thing:

除了周末，他每天都加班。
除了周末以外，他每天都加班。
除了周末之外，他每天都加班。
- Pinyin: Chúle zhōumò (yǐwài / zhīwài), tā měitiān dōu jiābān.
- English: He works overtime every day except weekends.

In everyday speech, people often say just 除了. 以外 makes the phrase a little fuller and clearer, which helps when the X part is long. 之外 (zhīwài) sounds a little more formal, so you will see it more in writing and on the news.

除了这个问题之外，还有别的问题吗？
- Pinyin: Chúle zhège wèntí zhīwài, hái yǒu bié de wèntí ma?
- English: Apart from this one, are there any other questions?

What you cannot drop is 除了 itself, or the 都, 还 or 也 in the second half. Those are the parts that carry the meaning.

Where to Put 除了…以外 in a Sentence

Most of the time, the 除了 phrase comes first, followed by a comma. It can also come right after the subject:

他除了周末，每天都加班。
- Pinyin: Tā chúle zhōumò, měitiān dōu jiābān.
- English: He works overtime every day except weekends.

The X part does not have to be a noun. It can be a verb phrase:

除了上课以外，她还在一家咖啡店打工。
- Pinyin: Chúle shàngkè yǐwài, tā hái zài yì jiā kāfēidiàn dǎgōng.
- English: Besides going to classes, she also works part-time in a café.

In the second half, 都, 还 and 也 are adverbs. They go after the subject and right before the verb, just like they do in any other sentence.

In casual speech you will sometimes hear 除了 added at the end as an afterthought: 我每天都跑步，除了下雨天. That is fine in conversation, with a pause before it. In writing, and in the HSK, put the 除了 phrase at the front.

Negative Sentences: 除了他，谁都不知道

This is a very natural way to say "only." You use 除了 with a question word, 都 and a negative:

除了 + X，谁 / 什么 / 哪儿 + 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb

除了他，谁都不知道这件事。
- Pinyin: Chúle tā, shéi dōu bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.
- English: Nobody knows about this except him.
除了一个面包，我今天什么都没吃。
- Pinyin: Chúle yí ge miànbāo, wǒ jīntiān shénme dōu méi chī.
- English: Apart from one bread roll, I haven't eaten anything today.
除了家和公司，他哪儿都不去。
- Pinyin: Chúle jiā hé gōngsī, tā nǎr dōu bú qù.
- English: He doesn't go anywhere except home and the office.

The first sentence means the same as 只有他知道这件事 (only he knows). Chinese speakers like the 除了 version because it sounds stronger: nobody else at all. 谁都 and 什么都 work like "anybody" and "anything" here, which our guide to Chinese question words explains in more detail. If you need a reminder about choosing 不 or 没, see 不 vs. 没.

You can also use 没有 with 别的:

除了这家店，附近没有别的超市。
- Pinyin: Chúle zhè jiā diàn, fùjìn méiyǒu bié de chāoshì.
- English: There's no other supermarket nearby apart from this one.

Except vs. Besides in Chinese: Comparison Table

Pattern	Meaning	Is X included?	Example	English
除了 X，都…	except	No	除了周日，每天都开门。	Open every day except Sunday.
除了 X，其他…都…	except	No	除了小张，其他人都同意。	Everyone agreed except Xiao Zhang.
除了 X，还…	besides	Yes	除了中文，她还会说日语。	Besides Chinese, she speaks Japanese.
除了 X，也…	besides, too	Yes	除了我，我妹妹也会弹钢琴。	Besides me, my sister plays piano too.
除了 X，谁都不…	only X	Only X	除了他，谁都不知道。	Nobody knows except him.

Real-Life Dialogues with 除了

Dialogue 1: Planning a Team Dinner

A：明天的聚会，大家都能来吗？
- Pinyin: Míngtiān de jùhuì, dàjiā dōu néng lái ma?
- English: Can everyone make it to tomorrow's dinner?
B：除了小林以外，都能来。他要出差。
- Pinyin: Chúle Xiǎo Lín yǐwài, dōu néng lái. Tā yào chūchāi.
- English: Everyone except Xiao Lin. He's away on a work trip.
A：那我们订八个人的位子吧。
- Pinyin: Nà wǒmen dìng bā ge rén de wèizi ba.
- English: Then let's book a table for eight.
B：等一下，除了同事，我还请了我的室友。
- Pinyin: Děng yíxià, chúle tóngshì, wǒ hái qǐng le wǒ de shìyǒu.
- English: Wait, besides our coworkers, I also invited my roommate.
A：没问题，那就订九个人的。
- Pinyin: Méi wèntí, nà jiù dìng jiǔ ge rén de.
- English: No problem, we'll book for nine, then.

Dialogue 2: Ordering Food

A：今天我请客。你有什么不吃的吗？
- Pinyin: Jīntiān wǒ qǐngkè. Nǐ yǒu shénme bù chī de ma?
- English: It's my treat today. Is there anything you don't eat?
B：除了羊肉，我什么都吃。
- Pinyin: Chúle yángròu, wǒ shénme dōu chī.
- English: I eat everything except lamb.
A：那我们点一条鱼。除了鱼，还要一个青菜吧？
- Pinyin: Nà wǒmen diǎn yì tiáo yú. Chúle yú, hái yào yí ge qīngcài ba?
- English: Then let's get a fish. Besides the fish, shall we get some greens too?
B：好啊，你点吧。
- Pinyin: Hǎo a, nǐ diǎn ba.
- English: Sure, you order.

Common Mistakes with 除了…以外

Mistake 1: Using 都 When You Mean "Besides"

This flips the meaning.

Wrong: 除了咖啡以外，我都喜欢茶。
Right: 除了咖啡以外，我还喜欢茶。
- Pinyin: Chúle kāfēi yǐwài, wǒ hái xǐhuan chá.
- English: Besides coffee, I also like tea.

Mistake 2: Putting 都 Before the Subject

Wrong: 除了他以外，都我们去了。
Right: 除了他以外，我们都去了。
- Pinyin: Chúle tā yǐwài, wǒmen dōu qù le.
- English: All of us went except him.

Mistake 3: Leaving Out 都, 还 or 也

Without one of them, the listener can't tell which meaning you want.

Wrong: 除了英语，他会说法语。
Right: 除了英语，他还会说法语。
- Pinyin: Chúle Yīngyǔ, tā hái huì shuō Fǎyǔ.
- English: Besides English, he also speaks French.

Mistake 4: Using 除了 Alone to Mean "Only"

Wrong: 除了他知道这件事。
Right: 除了他，谁都不知道这件事。 (or: 只有他知道这件事。)
- Pinyin: Chúle tā, shéi dōu bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.
- English: Nobody knows about this except him.

Practice Quiz: 都, 还 or 也?

Answers are below.

除了猫以外，我 ___ 喜欢狗。 (Besides cats, I also like dogs.)
除了小陈，大家 ___ 到了。 (Everyone is here except Xiao Chen.)
除了周一，博物馆每天 ___ 开门。 (The museum is open every day except Monday.)
除了做饭以外，他 ___ 会做蛋糕。 (Besides cooking, he can also make cakes.)
Translate into Chinese: Nobody knows except my mom.

Answers

还 (也 is also heard): 除了猫以外，我还喜欢狗。
都: 除了小陈，大家都到了。
都: 除了周一，博物馆每天都开门。
还: 除了做饭以外，他还会做蛋糕。
除了我妈妈，谁都不知道。 (Chúle wǒ māma, shéi dōu bù zhīdào.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 除了…以外 mean in Chinese?

除了…以外 (chúle…yǐwài) can mean "except" or "besides." The word in the second half of the sentence decides which: 都 gives "except," and 还 or 也 gives "besides" or "in addition to."

How do I know if 除了 means "except" or "besides"?

Look at the second half of the sentence. If it has 都, the thing after 除了 is left out, so it means "except." If it has 还 or 也, the thing after 除了 is included and something else is added, so it means "besides."

Can I leave out 以外 after 除了?

Yes. 除了他，我们都去了 and 除了他以外，我们都去了 mean the same thing. 以外 is optional in both meanings, and in everyday speech people often drop it.

What is the difference between 除了…以外 and 除了…之外?

There is almost no difference in meaning. 之外 (zhīwài) sounds a little more formal and is common in writing and news, while 以外 is the everyday choice. Both are correct in speech.

Should I use 还 or 也 after 除了?

Use 还 when the same person does or has one more thing, as in 除了中文，她还会说日语. 也 is common when a new person or thing is added, as in 除了我，我妹妹也会弹钢琴. Native speakers often mix the two.

What's Next

A good habit is to check the second half of every 除了 sentence you read before you decide what it means. Once that feels automatic, try 连…都/也, another pattern that pairs a word at the front with 都 or 也 later in the sentence.

Learn Chinese is free to download on iOS and Android, with HSK vocabulary, built-in audio, grammar lessons and practice tests to help you use 除了…以外 correctly. HSK 1 and 2 are free in full, and Learn Chinese Pro adds HSK 3 to 6.