除了...之外 means "except for" or "in addition to" depending on what follows.
Two meanings:
Exclusion (with 都) - "Except for"
- 除了他之外，都來了 (Everyone came except him)
Addition (with 也/還) - "In addition to"
- 除了中文之外，還會日文 (Besides Chinese, I also speak Japanese)
Except for weekends, I work every day.
Variations:
• 除了...之外 (formal)
• 除了...以外 (common)
• 除了...外 (shorter)
The keyword after (都 vs 也/還) determines whether you are excluding or including.
除了 A 之外 = besides A / except A
- 除了他之外，都去了 (Everyone went except him)
- 除了他之外，我也去 (Besides him, I also went)
也/都 determines meaning
- 也 = in addition to
- 都 = except for
之外 can be omitted in casual speech
Except for him, everyone came.
In addition to Chinese, I can also speak Japanese.
Besides work, I also have to take care of the children.
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