HSK 3
除了……(以外)，还……
chúle……( yǐwài)， hái……
not only…, but also…
Structure
除了 + A + (以外)， + Subject + 还 + B
How it works
This structure is used to indicate inclusion, meaning 'in addition to' or 'besides' something, there is also something else. The word '以外' (yǐwài) is optional and often omitted in spoken Chinese, while '还' (hái) emphasizes that the additional item belongs to the same category or subject.
Examples
除了咖啡，我还喜欢喝茶。
Chúle kāfēi, wǒ hái xǐhuān hē chá.
In addition to coffee, I also like drinking tea.
除了英语以外，他还会说中文。
Chúle Yīngyǔ yǐwài, tā hái huì shuō Zhōngwén.
Besides English, he can also speak Chinese.
除了看电影以外，我们还去逛街了。
Chúle kàn diànyǐng yǐwài, wǒmen hái qù guàngjiē le.
In addition to watching a movie, we also went shopping.
Common mistakes
Confusing '还' (hái) with '也' (yě). While both indicate 'also', '还' is more common in this specific 'besides/in addition' structure when the subject remains the same.
Tip
Pay attention to the context. If the sentence uses '也' or '还', it means 'in addition to'. If it uses '都' (dōu), it usually means 'except for' (e.g., 'Except for him, everyone is here').
More HSK 3 grammar
See 除了……(以外)，还…… in real Chinese
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