除此以外 (chú cǐ yǐ wài) — except for this; apart from that; in addition; besides; furthermore

Definition

A formal written/set phrase meaning 'apart from this' or 'in addition', used to link an extra point or exclude this one case. Pair with siblings below by meaning, not position: 除了…以外 names the excluded items, 而外/以外 alone marks 'other than'.

verb
except for thisapart from thatin additionbesidesfurthermore

Examples

  • 除此以外，。
    chú cǐ yǐ wài, Wǒ men hái xū yào kǎo lǜ chéng běn wèn tí.
    In addition, we also need to consider the cost issue.
  • ，除此以外。
    Tā píng shí hěn shǎo chū mén, chú cǐ yǐ wài jiù shì zài jiā kàn shū.
    He rarely goes out on weekdays; apart from that, he just stays home reading.
  • 除此以外。
    chú cǐ yǐ wài De yí qiè dōu bú zhòng yào le.
    Everything else except this no longer matters.

Origin

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 →

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

此 shows 止 (feet) and 人 (person), drawing a person stopping, to mean 'this' or 'here.'

Open 此 →

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

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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
卜卜bǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
月
月yuè外wài
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.

Open 外 →

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