HSK 3
除了
chú le
除了 (except, besides)
Explanation
除了 (chúle) means "besides..., apart from...". It has two nearly opposite meanings, distinguished by the word that follows in the second clause.
除了 (chúle) A，还/也 (hái/yě) B → "besides A, there is also B" (A counts too, plus B). 除了 (chúle) A，都 (dōu) B → "apart from A, everyone/everything else is B" (A is excluded from the group).
use the pair 除了...还/也 when you want to add more; use the pair 除了...都 when you want to exclude one item from the whole group.
the key point lies in the connecting word in the second clause. Having 还/也 (hái/yě) = A is included; having 都 (dōu) = A is excluded.
mixing up 还 and 都, which reverses the meaning; or forgetting the connecting word in the second clause (除了... must go with 还/也/都).
Examples
Besides English, he can also speak Chinese.
Apart from him, we are all international students.
Practice
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Learn “除了” effectively
The grammar point “除了” (除了 (except, besides)) is one of the key structures at HSK 3. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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