Meaning
除了 is a versatile preposition used to indicate exclusion or addition. When followed by 还/也, it means 'in addition to' or 'besides'. When used alone or with negative constructions, it means 'except for' or 'apart from'. It introduces information that is either added to or excluded from the main statement.
Usage
Native speakers use 除了...以外 for emphasis, though 以外 is often optional. The pattern 除了...还/也... is extremely common for addition ('not only... but also...'). Without 还/也, it typically means exclusion. Register is neutral and suitable for both spoken and written Chinese.
Examples
- 01除了中文，我还会说英文和法文。, .Besides Chinese, I can also speak English and French.
- 02除了他以外，大家都来了。, .Everyone came except him.
Characters
Common collocations
- 除了...还...... ...besides... also...
- 除了...也...... ...in addition to... also...
- 除了...以外...apart from... / besides...
- 除了...之外...except for... / besides...
Origin
除 originally meant 'to remove' or 'to eliminate', derived from its basic meaning of removing steps or obstacles. Combined with 了, it forms a grammatical structure meaning 'having removed/excluded'.