之外 (zhī wài) — (suffix) beyond; outside of (a scope or boundar…

Definition

之外 attaches after a noun or …之外 phrase to mark 'outside / beyond / apart from' that boundary, used in the set pattern 除了…之外 ('besides / except').

suffix

beyondoutside of (a scope or boundary)apart fromexcluding (in the pattern 除了…之外)in additionbesides (in the pattern 除了…之外)

之外，。
Chú le xué xí zhī wài, tā hái xǐ huan yùn dòng.
Besides studying, he also likes sports.
之外。
Zhè ge jì huà bú zài wǒ de néng lì fàn wéi zhī wài.
This plan is beyond my ability.
之外，。
Chú le nǐ zhī wài, méi rén zhī dào zhè jiàn shì.
Apart from you, no one knows about this.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

The 之 here adds no content; 外 supplies outside, so the pair means beyond a scope.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

月

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

Appears in