HSK 7-9
（在）……之余
(zài)...zhī yú
In addition to...; besides...
Structure
(在) + Noun / Verb Phrase + 之余
How it works
This structure is used to describe an action or state that occurs in addition to a primary activity or during one's spare time. It is a formal way to express 'after,' 'besides,' or 'beyond' the scope of a main duty or situation.
Examples
他在繁忙的工作之余，还坚持学习法语。
Tā zài fánmáng de gōngzuò zhī yú, hái jiānchí xuéxí fǎyǔ.
In addition to his busy work, he insists on studying French.
希望你在为梦想拼搏之余，也要注意身体。
Xīwàng nǐ zài wèi mèngxiǎng pīnbó zhī yú, yě yào zhùyì shēntǐ.
I hope that while you are striving for your dreams, you also take care of your health.
晚饭之余，老人喜欢去湖边散步。
Wǎnfàn zhī yú, lǎorén xǐhuān qù húbiān sànbù.
After dinner, the elderly man likes to go for a walk by the lake.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse this with '之前' (before) or '之后' (after); '之余' emphasizes that the action is supplementary to or happens in the 'excess' time of the main activity.
Tip
This phrase is most commonly used with nouns relating to work, study, or specific time-consuming events (e.g., 课余, 业余).
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See （在）……之余 in real Chinese
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