之外

• Pinyin: zhī wài
• Hanzi breakdown: 之 = classical possessive particle; 外 = 夕 (evening) + 卜 (divination), meaning outside

Meaning

Outside of; beyond; apart from. Used to indicate something is excluded or beyond certain limits.

A formal locative phrase used after nouns expressing scope or category. Common patterns: 除此之外 (apart from this), 工作之外 (outside of work), 意料之外 (beyond expectation). More formal than 以外.

Examples

1. 除此之外，我没有其他问题了。 Apart from this, I have no other questions.
2. 工作之外，他还喜欢摄影。 Outside of work, he also likes photography.
3. 这个结果完全在我的意料之外。 This result was completely beyond my expectations.

Usage Guide

Context: written, addition, exclusion

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 除此之外还有什么？(Apart from this, what else?)
• 预期之外的收获。(An unexpected gain.)

Don't Say

• 之外以外 (Redundant — use one or the other)

Origin & History

Compound of 之 (possessive/connective particle) and 外 (outside). The outside of.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal