Chinese word

以外

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǐ wài

Meaning

  • nounexcept for

Example

这个问题以外，我都能解决。zhè ge wèn tí yǐ wài wǒ dōu néng jiě jué

I can solve every problem except for this one.

Illustration for 以外 (except for)

More examples

除了苹果以外，我都喜欢吃。chú le píng guǒ yǐ wài wǒ dōu xǐ huān chī

I like eating everything except apples.

Core concept

What lies beyond a stated limit, whether it is excluded from the group or included as an extra.

Common phrases

  • 除了...以外都可以chú le yǐ wài dōu ké yǐ

    everything except ___ is okay

  • 除...以外都chú yǐ wài dōu

    everything except ___

Similar words

其他qí tā: People or things that remain after those already named are set aside.
之外zhī wài: What lies beyond the limits of a particular range or situation.

Definition in Chinese

表示超出某个界限或排除在某范围之外的事物，既可指具体空间的外部，也可指抽象范围以外的例外或除外对象。biǎo shì chāo chū mǒu gè jiè xiàn huò pái chú zài mǒu fàn wéi zhī wài de shì wù jì kě zhǐ jù tǐ kōng jiān de wài bù yě kě zhǐ chōu xiàng fàn wéi yǐ wài de lì wài huò chú wài duì xiàng

Word origin

以 (yǐ, "by; according to") + 外 (wài, "outside") presents something as outside a stated reference, which gives the word its exclusion and addition senses.

Usage tips

  • English besides can mean both except for and in addition to, so the whole sentence is needed to tell whether this word removes an item or adds one.

Other meanings

  • in addition tonoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word