以外

• Reading: いがい
• Romaji: igai
• Kanji breakdown: 以 (i) — by means of, from; 外 (gai/soto) — outside, other
• Pronunciation: /i.ɡa.i/

Meaning

Other than; with the exception of. Used to exclude something from a group.

A noun-suffix that attaches directly after a noun or noun phrase to mean 'other than X' or 'except for X.' It functions grammatically as a noun and is often followed by particles like は, に, or の. Very common in both spoken and written Japanese.

Examples

1. 日曜日以外は毎日働いています。 I work every day except Sunday.
2. 日本語以外の言語も勉強したい。 I want to study languages other than Japanese too.
3. コーヒー以外に何か飲みますか。 Would you like something to drink besides coffee?

Usage Guide

Context: daily conversation, writing, rules

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 以 (i, by means of/from) and 外 (gai, outside). Literally 'outside of' a given boundary, expressing exclusion.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal