3 · Linking clauses
Except and besides: chúle … yǐwài
leaving something out or adding it in
Chúle sets something aside; the adverb that follows decides whether it is left out or added in.
除了 … 以外 frames a word or phrase and sets it aside: 除了小王以外, “apart from Xiao Wang”. 以外 can be left out, and 之外 is a slightly more formal alternative to it. The frame usually stands at the very beginning of the sentence.
English has two words here, “except” and “besides”, and Chinese has one frame for both. What decides the meaning is the adverb in the main clause. With 都, the thing in the frame is left out: 除了小王以外，大家都来了, “everyone came except Xiao Wang”. With 还 or 也, it is added in: 除了中文以外，我还学日语, “besides Chinese, I am also learning Japanese”.
So the choice an English speaker has to make is not between two conjunctions but between two adverbs, and it comes later in the sentence than English would make it. Both adverbs stand after the subject of the main clause, before the verb.
The frame can hold a noun, a verb phrase or a whole clause: 除了上班以外，她还在学开车. With a negative main clause the pattern gives “nobody but”, “nothing but”: 除了他，谁都不知道, “nobody knows except him”.
The form
| except: with 都 | 除了小王以外，大家都来了。 |
| besides: with 还 | 除了中文以外，我还学日语。 |
| besides: with 也 | 除了我以外，小李也会去。 |
| without 以外 | 除了星期天，他每天都上班。 |
| with a verb phrase | 除了看书，她还喜欢画画。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
With 都 in the main clause, 除了 means “except”: what is in the frame is left out.
除了香菜以外，我什么菜都吃。I’ll eat anything except coriander.
With 还 or 也 it means “besides, as well as”: what is in the frame is counted in.
除了英语以外，他还会说西班牙语。Besides English, he can also speak Spanish.
以外 may be left out; 之外 is a slightly more formal alternative.
除了周末之外，图书馆每天都开。The library is open every day except at the weekend.
With a negative main clause, the pattern means “nobody but”, “nothing but”.
除了他，谁都不知道这件事。Nobody but him knows about this.
A closer look
One frame, two meanings
除 means “to remove”, and 除了 literally sets something to one side. What the sentence then does with the rest decides the meaning. If the rest is “all of them” — 都 — the removed item is the exception. If the rest is “more as well” — 还, 也 — the removed item was the first of several.
Between two sentences, “besides” or “in addition” is 另外 in speech and 此外 in writing. Neither needs a frame: they simply open the next sentence.
How to spot it
- 除了
- 以外
- 之外
- 除了…都
- 除了…还
Example sentences
除了我以外，同学们都去过长城。All my classmates except me have been to the Great Wall.
除了上班以外，她还在学开车。Besides working, she is also learning to drive.
除了咖啡，你还想喝什么？What else would you like to drink besides coffee?
这家店除了星期一，每天都营业。This shop is open every day except Monday.
除了北京以外，我们也去了西安。Besides Beijing, we also went to Xi’an.
除了睡觉，他什么都不想做。He doesn’t feel like doing anything except sleep.
7 more example sentences
除了价格有点儿高以外，别的方面都很好。Apart from the price being a bit high, everything else is fine.
除了面条，他还点了一个汤。Besides the noodles, he also ordered a soup.
除了这道题以外，其他的我都做对了。I got all the others right except this question.
除了弹吉他，他也会打鼓。Besides playing the guitar, he can also play the drums.
我们班除了两个人以外，别人都通过了考试。Everyone in our class passed the exam except two people.
除了你，我谁也不相信。I don’t trust anyone but you.
除了去博物馆，我们还可以去公园走走。Besides going to the museum, we could also take a walk in the park.
Worth knowing (1)
-
Chúle … jiùshì: nothing but
With 就是 in the second half, the pattern says that there are only two things and nothing else: “if not A, then B”. It often sounds slightly critical.
周末他除了看电视就是玩手机。At weekends he does nothing but watch TV or play on his phone.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
The intended meaning is “all of us went except him”. With 还 the sentence says “besides him, we went too” — so he went as well. English settles the meaning with “except” or “besides” at the start; Chinese settles it with the adverb, and that is the word to choose carefully.
Chúle with dōu leaves it out; chúle with hái or yě adds it in.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.