“Because” and “besides” – 因 yīn and 除 chú

Grammar Point:
In casual Chinese, people often shorten 因為为 yīnwèi to 因 yīn and 除了 chúle to 除 chú. These abbreviations are common in speech and writing, especially online or in headlines.

因 yīn – because

This is often used in more formal writing, headlines, or brief statements, especially when trying to be concise.

因yīn工作gōngzuò太tài忙máng， 我wǒ沒méi時間shíjiān運動yùndòng因yīn工作gōngzuò太tài忙máng， 我wǒ没méi时间shíjiān运动yùndòng
Because work is too busy, I don’t have time to exercise.

他tā遲到chídào了le， 是shì因yīn路上lùshàng塞車sāichē他tā迟到chídào了le， 是shì因yīn路上lùshang堵车dǔchē
He was late because there was traffic on the road.

因yīn天氣tiānqì不bù佳jiā， 活動huódòng取消qǔxiāo因yīn天气tiānqì不bù佳jiā， 活动huódòng取消qǔxiāo
Because of bad weather, the event was canceled.

我wǒ今天jīntiān心情xīnqíng很hěn好hǎo， 因yīn狗狗gǒugǒu早上zǎoshàng親qīn了le我wǒ我wǒ今天jīntiān心情xīnqíng很hěn好hǎo， 因yīn狗狗gǒugǒu早上zǎoshang亲qīn了le我wǒ
I’m in a great mood today because my dog gave me morning kisses.

因yīn手機shǒujī沒méi電diàn， 我wǒ迷路mílù了le兩liǎng小時xiǎoshí因yīn手机shǒujī没méi电diàn， 我wǒ迷路mílù了le两liǎng小时xiǎoshí
Because my phone died, I was lost for two hours.

因yīn烏龍茶wūlóngchá太tài好喝hǎohē， 我wǒ不小心bùxiǎoxīn喝hē了le三sān杯bēi因yīn乌龙茶wūlóngchá太tài好喝hǎohē， 我wǒ不小心bùxiǎoxīn喝hē了le三sān杯bēi
Because the Oolong tea was too good, I accidentally drank three cups.

除 chú – besides / except for

When used alone, 除 chú usually means “except” or “besides” and also appears in abbreviated writing, headlines, or spoken Chinese.

除chú他tā以外yǐwài， 大家dàjiā都dōu來lái了le除chú他tā以外yǐwài， 大家dàjiā都dōu来lái了le
Except for him, everyone came.

除chú中文zhōngwén， 他tā還hái會huì日文rìwén和hàn韓文hánwén除chú中文zhōngwén， 他tā还hái会huì日文rìwén和hé韩文hánwén
Besides Chinese, he also speaks Japanese and Korean.

除chú假日jiàrì， 這zhè家jiā店diàn每天měitiān都dōu開kāi除chú假日jiàrì， 这zhè家jiā店diàn每天měitiān都dōu开kāi
Except holidays, this store is open every day.

除chú我wǒ之外zhīwài， 大家dàjiā都dōu忘了wàngle帶dài生日shēngrì禮物lǐwù除chú我wǒ之外zhīwài， 大家dàjiā都dōu忘了wàngle带dài生日shēngrì礼物lǐwù
Except for me, everyone forgot to bring a birthday gift.

除chú他tā， 沒人méirén願意yuànyì凌晨língchén三點sāndiǎn來lái接jiē我wǒ除chú他tā， 没人méirén愿意yuànyì凌晨língchén三点sāndiǎn来lái接jiē我wǒ
Except for him, no one would come pick me up at 3 a.m.

除chúNetflix ， 我wǒ現在xiànzài不bù想xiǎng看kàn其他qítā平台píngtái除chúNetflix ， 我wǒ现在xiànzài不bù想xiǎng看kàn其他qítā平台píngtái
Besides Netflix, I don’t want to watch anything else right now.