Except and Besides in Chinese

Grammar Point
除了 chúle is a commonly used conjunction in Chinese that means “besides” or “except for.” It is often used to introduce additional information or to exclude something or someone from a group or list. And it can take a noun phrase or a verb phrase as its object.

Structure – Besides

S + 除了⋯ (+ 以外) + 也 ⋯

The subject can be placed either before 除了 chúle or before 也 yě. 以外 yǐwài is an optional component of the structure, which means “in addition to” or “besides.” It emphasizes that the thing or person excluded is the only exception.

也 yě emphasizes that the thing mentioned after 除了chúle is also included in the list of things that the subject is doing or experiencing.

他tā除了chúle會huì說shuō英文yīngwén以外yǐwài也yě會huì說shuō中文zhōngwén他tā除了chúle会huì说shuō英文yīngwén以外yǐwài也yě会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén
He speaks English as well as Chinese.

除了chúle貓māo我wǒ也yě喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu除了chúle猫māo我wǒ也yě喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu
In addition to cats, I also like dogs.

你nǐ去qù超市chāoshì除了chúle買mǎi咖啡kāfēi也yě要yào記得jìdé買mǎi牛奶niúnǎi你nǐ去qù超市chāoshì除了chúle买mǎi咖啡kāfēi也yě要yào记得jìdé买mǎi牛奶niúnǎi
When you go to the supermarket, remember to buy coffee as well as milk.

我wǒ週末zhōumò除了chúle得děi洗xǐ衣服yīfú以外yǐwài也yě得děi洗狗xǐgǒu我wǒ周末zhōumò除了chúle得děi洗xǐ衣服yīfu以外yǐwài也yě得děi洗狗xǐgǒu
On weekends, I not only have to do laundry but also wash the dog.

這zhè工作gōngzuò除了chúle薪水xīnshuǐ以外yǐwài， 也yě提供tígōng獎金jiǎngjīn这zhè工作gōngzuò除了chúle薪水xīnshuǐ以外yǐwài， 也yě提供tígōng奖金jiǎngjīn
This job provides bonuses in addition to the salary.

FYI
Hey, have you heard about 年終獎金 niánzhōng jiǎngjīn? In Taiwan, the year-end bonus can vary depending on the company and the individual’s performance. While there is no fixed standard, it is common for the year-end bonus to range from half a month’s salary to as much as 44 months’ salary. The actual amount is determined by various factors, including the company’s financial situation, profitability, employee performance, and any applicable regulations or agreements.
(I envy them so much…🙄😮‍💨)

S + 除了⋯ (+ 以外) + 還还 ⋯

The word 還还 hái emphasizes that the thing mentioned after 除了chúle is surprising or unexpected.

他tā除了chúle會huì說shuō英文yīngwén還hái會huì說shuō中文zhōngwén他tā除了chúle会huì说shuō英文yīngwén还hái会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén
Besides being able to speak English, he also speaks Chinese.

我家wǒjiā除了chúle一隻yìzhī狗gǒu以外yǐwài， 還有háiyǒu兩隻liǎngzhī貓māo我家wǒjiā除了chúle一只yìzhī狗gǒu以外yǐwài， 还有háiyǒu两只liǎngzhī猫māo
Besides a dog, there are two cats in my house.

Okay, the dog is mine, but the cats are my friends. They are incredibly adorable, right? In Taiwan, cats are well taken care of and protected by animal welfare organizations and compassionate individuals. The implementation of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs is widespread to manage the population of stray cats and ensure their welfare. Therefore, if you visit Taiwan, it’s quite likely that you will come across numerous street cats with a distinctive ear cut.

除了chúle咖啡kāfēi， 你nǐ還要háiyào我wǒ買mǎi其他qítā的de嗎ma？ 除了chúle咖啡kāfēi， 你nǐ还要háiyào我wǒ买mǎi其他qítā的de吗ma？
Do you want me to buy anything else besides coffee?

除了chúle不bù吃chī蘑菇mógū以外yǐwài， 還有háiyǒu別的biéde嗎ma？ 除了chúle不bù吃chī蘑菇mógū以外yǐwài， 还有háiyǒu别的biéde吗ma？
Apart from not eating mushrooms, is there anything else?

蛋炒飯dànchǎofàn除了chúle要yào加jiā蛋dàn還要háiyào加jiā炒飯chǎofàn蛋炒饭dànchǎofàn除了chúle要yào加jiā蛋dàn还要háiyào加jiā炒饭chǎofàn 😏
For egg fried rice, besides adding eggs, you also need to add stir-fried rice.

Structure – Except for

S + 除了⋯ (+ 以外) + 都 ⋯

It is used to indicate that everything or everyone except for the thing or person mentioned in the first part of the sentence is included in the second part.

我wǒ除了chúle會huì說shuō中文zhōngwén以外yǐwài， 其他qítā外語wàiyǔ都dōu不會búhuì說shuō我wǒ除了chúle会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén以外yǐwài， 其他qítā外语wàiyǔ都dōu不会búhuì说shuō
I can’t speak any foreign language except Chinese.

除了chúle這zhè道dào菜cài， 別的biéde菜cài都dōu有yǒu肉ròu除了chúle这zhè道dào菜cài， 别的biéde菜cài都dōu有yǒu肉ròu
Apart from this dish, all other dishes have meat.

這裡zhèlǐ除了chúle我wǒ， 所有suǒyǒu人rén都dōu去qù過guò台灣Táiwān这里zhèlǐ除了chúle我wǒ， 所有suǒyǒu人rén都dōu去qù过guò台湾Táiwān
Everyone here except me has been to Taiwan.

除了chúle你nǐ， 我wǒ其他qítā人rén都dōu不愛búài除了chúle你nǐ， 我wǒ其他qítā人rén都dōu不爱búài
Except for you, I don’t love anyone else.

聖誕節shèngdànjié的時候deshíhòu， 除了chúle中國Zhōngguó餐廳cāntīng以外yǐwài， 所有suǒyǒu餐廳cāntīng都dōu休息xiūxí圣诞节shèngdànjié的时候deshíhou， 除了chúle中国Zhōngguó餐馆儿cānguǎnr以外yǐwài， 所有suǒyǒu餐馆儿cānguǎnr都dōu休息xiūxi
During Christmas, all restaurants are closed except for Chinese restaurants.

Practice