以外 yǐwài apart from
apart from; other than; except for; external; outside of; on the other side of; beyond
How to remember 以外: 以 to use + 外 outside = apart from.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Apart from / outside of' - most often in 除了…以外 (chúle…yǐwài): 除了他以外，都来了 (chúle tā yǐwài, dōu láile) everyone came except him.
- Also spatial/quantitative 'beyond': 三公里以外 (sān gōnglǐ yǐwài) beyond three km; 意料以外 (yìliào yǐwài) unexpected.
- Opposite of 以内 (yǐnèi, within); 除了…以外 can mean either 'except for' or 'besides', read from context - 三天以内 (sān tiān yǐnèi) within three days.
Example sentences
- 除了相信对方以外，你们没什么要做的了。 Chúle xiāngxìn duìfāng yǐwài, nǐmen méishénme yào zuò de le.All you need to do is trust each other.
- 除了钢琴以外，还会玩什么乐器吗？ Chúle gāngqín yǐwài, háihuì wán shénme yuèqì ma?Do you play any instrument other than the piano?
- 除了汤姆以外任何人都知道他没必要这么做。 Chúle tāngmǔ yǐwài rènhérén dōu zhīdào tā méi bìyào zhème zuò.Everyone but Tom knew he didn't need to do that.