除了……（以外）
except A (everyone else …) · besides A (… as well)
Structure
除了 A （以外），…… 都 …… · 除了 A （以外），…… 还／也 ……
What it means
除了 A means “except A” or “besides A”, and the second half decides which: 都 leaves A out, while 还 or 也 adds to A.
How it is built
除了 A (以外)，…都…: 除了星期一，这家饭馆每天都开门 (open every day except Monday). 除了 A (以外)，…还／也…: 除了英语，大卫也会说中文 (besides English, David speaks Chinese too).
When to use it
以外 after A is optional. Use 都 to name an exception to a rule; use 还 or 也 to add more to a list: 除了同事以外，刘洋还请了很多大学同学.
Watch out
Check the second half: 除了他，大家都来了 means everyone came but him; 除了他，我也来了 means he came, and so did I. Swapping 都 and 也 flips the meaning.
Examples
除了星期一，这家饭馆每天都开门。
This restaurant is open every day except Monday.
除了同事以外，刘洋还请了很多大学同学。
Besides his colleagues, Liu Yang also invited lots of his university friends.
除了英语，大卫也会说中文。
Besides English, David speaks Chinese too.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 16: 他们结婚了 (A wedding)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →