TongTong
Sign in

除了 (chú le) — besides, in addition to (used with 还/也 to include); except (for) (used with 都 to exclude)

Definition

除了 means 'besides/except' and is almost always followed by 都 (exclude) or 还/也 (include). 以外 can do the same job in writing (除了…以外), but 以外 alone is a noun meaning 'outside/beyond'.

preposition
besidesin addition to (used with 还/也 to include)except (for) (used with 都 to exclude)

Examples

  • 除了，。
    chú le Shuǐ, wǒ hái xǐ huan hē chá.
    Besides water, I also like to drink tea.
  • 除了，。
    chú le Tā, wǒ men dōu qù.
    Except for him, we are all going.
  • 除了，。
    chú le Kàn shū yǐ wài, tā hái xǐ huan tīng yīn yuè.
    Besides reading, she also likes listening to music.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

除chúexcept
了liǎofixed form

除 gives the except sense; 了 is a fixed form that completes the common word.

Characters in this word

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
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú除chú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

除 is built from 阜 and 余, with 余 giving the sound.

Open 除 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

了 was once drawn to show a baby with no arms; some old comments say it showed crossed or tangled legs.

Open 了 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.