除了

chú le

besides

HSK 3

Character Breakdown

Usage of 除了

'除了' is a common preposition used to indicate exclusion or addition, often translated as 'besides' or 'except'. It frequently appears in the pattern '除了...' to emphasize what is excluded or included.

Common Patterns

Nuances

When using '除了', the speaker often highlights an exception or adds information beyond what was mentioned. It can express exclusion (like 'except') or inclusion (like 'besides').

Collocations

Tips

Avoid confusing '除了' with '除了...'—the latter is more formal and explicit for exceptions. '除了' alone can sometimes imply addition rather than exclusion depending on context.

Example Sentences

除了我,大家都去了电影院。

Chúle wǒ, dàjiā dōu qùle diànyǐngyuàn.

Besides me, everyone went to the cinema.

除了汉语,他还会说英语和法语。

Chúle Hànyǔ, tā hái huì shuō Yīngyǔ hé Fǎyǔ.

Besides Chinese, he can also speak English and French.

除了下雨,我们什么都准备好了。

Chúle xiàyǔ, wǒmen shénme dōu zhǔnbèihǎo le.

Except for the rain, we have prepared everything.