Preposition: 除 (Except/Besides — Formal)
表示排除：除
Use the formal preposition 除 (without 了) to express exclusion or inclusion in written Chinese
Place 除 before the item being excluded or included, often followed by 以外 or 之外. The main clause then uses 都 (all/none — exclusion) or 也/还 (also — inclusion) to complete the meaning.
At lower HSK levels, you learned 除了……以外. At HSK 6, the concise 除 (without 了) is introduced for formal registers. The meaning depends on the main clause: with 都/没有 it means "except"; with 也/还 it means "besides/in addition to." This is the same logic as 除了, just in a more compact form.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Preposition: 除 (Except/Besides — Formal) (表示排除：除)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 表示排除：除 pattern
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Understanding 表示排除：除
You already know 除了……以外 from earlier HSK levels — it is one of the most useful structures for saying "except" or "besides." Now at HSK 6, you learn that formal Chinese often drops the 了, using just 除 for a more concise, written feel. The core logic remains identical: if the main clause uses 都 or a negative word, you are EXCLUDING (everyone came except him); if it uses 也 or 还, you are INCLUDING (besides Chinese, she also speaks English). The formal version 除……以外 or 除……之外 appears in official documents, academic writing, and news reports. You will also encounter it in legal and business language: 除本合同规定以外 (except as stipulated in this contract). Mastering both the formal 除 and the everyday 除了 gives you full command of this essential structure across all registers.
Key Points
- 除 (chú) = "except / besides" — formal version of 除了.
- 除 + X + 以外/之外 = the standard formal frame.
- Exclusion: 除X以外，都…… = "except for X, all…"
- Inclusion: 除X以外，还/也…… = "besides X, also…"
- 以外 and 之外 are interchangeable — 之外 is slightly more literary.
- The 了 in 除了 is dropped in formal writing for conciseness.
- Common in legal and official language: 除另有规定以外 (unless otherwise stipulated).
Precision in expressing inclusion and exclusion is critical in Chinese legal and business writing. Contracts and regulations frequently use 除……以外 to define scope and exceptions. Getting this structure right is not just a grammar skill — it has real-world implications in professional Chinese.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
除他以外，所有人都来了。
Except for him, everyone came.
Exclusion — 都 in main clause
除这件事以外，其他我都能答应你。
Except for this matter, I can agree to everything else.
除这个箱子以外，没有其他行李了。
Besides this suitcase, there is no other luggage.
除周末以外，图书馆每天都开放。
Except for weekends, the library is open every day.
Exclusion — 都 signals "all other days"
除英语之外，她还会说法语和日语。
Besides English, she can also speak French and Japanese.
Inclusion — 还 signals "in addition"
除特殊情况以外，员工必须按时上班。
Except in special circumstances, employees must arrive at work on time.
Formal workplace rule
除价格之外，质量也是我们考虑的因素。
Besides price, quality is also a factor we consider.
Inclusion — 也 signals "in addition"
Common Mistakes
Do not mix exclusion (没有) and inclusion (也) signals. If you use 没有, it is exclusion. If you use 也, it is inclusion. Pick one logic.
The excluded item goes between 除 and 以外: 除 + X + 以外. Do not put 以外 before the excluded item.
Do not stack multiple 除 clauses. Combine the excluded items into one 除……以外 phrase.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
The key to 除……以外 is reading the main clause: 都/没有 = exclusion (except), 也/还 = inclusion (besides).
除此之外 (apart from this) is an incredibly useful transition phrase in essays and discussions.
In formal writing, prefer 除……以外 or 除……之外 over the colloquial 除了.
Practice by listing exceptions to rules: 除……以外，都…… — this pattern appears constantly in regulations and instructions.
Homework
Write three exclusion sentences (除X以外，都/没有……) and three inclusion sentences (除X以外，也/还……). Then write a short formal rule or regulation for a school or workplace using 除……以外 at least twice.