除了 (chúle) — besides; except
HSK 2 | preposition | introduces exceptions or additions; used in 除了...以外/还/都 patterns
除了 (chúle)
除了 introduces either an exception ("except for X, everything else...") or an addition ("besides X, also..."). The meaning flips based on what follows. With 都 it usually means "except"; with 还/也 it means "in addition to." The paired word 以外 (yǐwài) can optionally close the phrase.
Meanings
- [preposition] Except for; other than. 除了X，都... — "Except for X, everything/everyone..."
- [preposition] Besides; in addition to. 除了X，还/也... — "Besides X, also..."
Example Sentences
除了他，大家都来了。 Chúle tā, dàjiā dōu lái le. Except for him, everyone came.
除了中文，她还会说法语。 Chúle Zhōngwén, tā hái huì shuō Fǎyǔ. Besides Chinese, she can also speak French.
除了周末以外，我每天都上班。 Chúle zhōumò yǐwài, wǒ měitiān dōu shàngbān. Except for weekends, I go to work every day.
除了苹果，我还买了香蕉。 Chúle píngguǒ, wǒ hái mǎi le xiāngjiāo. Besides apples, I also bought bananas.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 除了...以外 (chúle...yǐwài) | except for...; apart from... |
| 除了...还... (chúle...hái...) | besides..., also... |
| 除了...都... (chúle...dōu...) | except for..., all... |
| 除了...之外 (chúle...zhīwài) | apart from... (formal variant) |
| 除此之外 (chú cǐ zhīwài) | apart from this; besides this |
Memory Hook
除 contains the character for "excess/spare" — think of 除了 as scooping out one item from a pile. What remains "all" fits one pattern; the scooped-out piece is the exception or the extra.