以外

• Pinyin: yǐ wài
• Hanzi breakdown: 以 = 'from/by means of'; 外 = 夕 (evening) + 卜 (divination), meaning 'outside'

Meaning

Outside of; apart from; beyond. Indicates something that is excluded or beyond a certain scope.

Used after a noun or phrase to mean 'outside of' or 'apart from.' Often used in the pattern 除了...以外 (apart from...). Can refer to physical space (城市以外 — outside the city) or abstract scope (工作以外 — outside of work).

Examples

1. 除了小王以外，大家都来了。 Apart from Xiao Wang, everyone came.
2. 工作以外，她喜欢画画。 Outside of work, she likes to paint.
3. 学校以外的事情他不太关心。 He doesn't care much about things outside of school.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation, formal

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 除了英语以外，他还会说法语。(Apart from English, he can also speak French.)
• 这件事以外，还有别的问题吗？(Apart from this matter, are there any other issues?)

Don't Say

• 我以外不想去。(Don't use 以外 alone to mean 'I don't want to go out' — 以外 means 'apart from,' not 'going outside.' Use 出去 for that.)

Origin & History

Compound of 以 (from/by means of) and 外 (outside), literally 'from outside,' i.e. beyond a given boundary.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal