除了 chúle means “besides” or “in addition to.” It introduces one thing, and then 也 yě or 還 hái还 hái adds something more. It can be followed by a noun phrase or a verb phrase.
一 除了 … 也: Besides
(Subject) + 除了 … (以外)，(Subject) + 也 …
The subject can go before 除了 chúle or before 也 yě. 以外 yǐwài is optional; it just rounds off the 除了 chúle phrase. 也 yě simply adds another item: “also.”
他除了會会說说英文以外也會会說说中文
Besides English, he can also speak Chinese.
除了貓猫我也喜歡喜欢狗
Besides cats, I also like dogs.
你去超市除了買买咖啡也要記得记得買买牛奶
When you go to the supermarket, remember to buy milk as well as coffee.
我週末周末除了得洗衣服衣服以外也得洗狗
On weekends, besides doing laundry, I also have to wash the dog.
這这工作除了薪水以外，也提供獎金奖金
Besides a salary, this job also offers bonuses.
FYI: 年終獎金年终奖金Ever heard of 年終獎金 niánzhōng jiǎngjīn年终奖金 niánzhōng jiǎngjīn, the year-end bonus? In Taiwan, it depends on the company and how well you performed. There’s no fixed standard: it can be anywhere from half a month’s salary to several months’ pay, depending on how the company did that year. (I’m so jealous of those people… 🙄😮💨)
二 除了 … 還还: On Top of That
(Subject) + 除了 … (以外)，(Subject) + 還还 …
還 hái还 hái also adds more, but with a feeling that the extra thing is surprising or more than expected: “on top of that.” It’s also very common in questions like “Anything else?”
他除了會会說说英文還还會会說说中文
Not only can he speak English, he can speak Chinese too!
我家除了一隻只狗以外，還有还有兩两隻只貓猫
Besides a dog, there are two cats at my place.
OK, confessionThe dog is mine, but the cats are my friend’s. Aren’t they adorable? In Taiwan, many animal welfare groups and kind individuals look after street cats. TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs are widespread, so if you visit Taiwan, you’ll probably meet lots of street cats with a little notch cut in one ear. That means they’ve been neutered.
除了咖啡，你還还要我買买其他的嗎吗？
Besides coffee, do you want me to buy anything else?
除了不吃蘑菇以外，還有还有別的别的嗎吗？
Besides not eating mushrooms, is there anything else?
蛋炒飯蛋炒饭除了要加蛋還还要加炒飯炒饭
For egg fried rice, besides adding egg, you also need to add… fried rice. 😏
三 Watch Out: 除了 … 都 = Except
Careful! When the second half uses 都 dōu instead of 也 yě/還 hái还 hái, 除了 chúle means “except”: the thing after 除了 chúle is left out.
除了 … 也／還还 · besides (included)
除了他以外，小美也來来了
Besides him, Xiaomei came too. (Both came.)
除了 … 都 · except (left out)
除了他以外，大家都來来了
Everyone came except him. (He didn’t come.)
四 Common Mistakes
❌ 除了英文以外，他會会說说中文
✅ 除了英文以外，他也會会說说中文
Don’t forget 也 yě or 還 hái还 hái in the second half.
❌ 除了貓猫，也我喜歡喜欢狗
✅ 除了貓猫，我也喜歡喜欢狗
也 yě and 還 hái还 hái are adverbs, so they go after the subject.
❌ 除了小明以外，大家也來来了
✅ 除了小明以外，大家都來来了
If you mean “everyone except Xiaoming,” use 都 dōu.
五 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“Besides Chinese, he can also speak Japanese.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
他除了中文以外也會会說说日文
除了中文以外，他也會会說说日文 is also correct.
The subject can go before 除了 chúle or before 也 yě.
“Besides tea, I also like coffee.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
除了茶，我也喜歡喜欢咖啡
我除了茶也喜歡喜欢咖啡 is also correct.
也 yě goes after the subject.
“On weekends, besides cleaning, I also have to cook.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
週末周末我除了打掃打扫以外還还得做飯做饭
我週末周末除了打掃打扫以外還还得做飯做饭 is also correct.
除了 chúle can introduce a verb phrase, too.
“Besides a dog, my home also has two cats.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我家除了一隻只狗以外，還有还有兩两隻只貓猫
都 dōu would mean “except,” so it’s a trap here.
“Besides coffee, do you want anything else?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
除了咖啡，你還还要別的别的嗎吗？
你除了咖啡還还要別的别的嗎吗？ is also correct.
還 hái还 hái is great for “anything else?” questions.
