HSK 7
除此之外 (chúcǐ zhīwài) in Chinese
除此之外 is a fixed connective meaning besides that or apart from that. It refers back to an item, fact, or situation already mentioned and introduces additional information or what remains after excluding it. Because the intended relation depends on context, following words such as 还, 也, 没有, and 都 help distinguish addition from exclusion.
STRUCTURE
Statement A; 除此之外 + Additional Statement B
When to use 除此之外 — and when not
Use it when
- To add another point: 课程包括听力和口语，除此之外，还有写作练习。
- To state that nothing else applies: 除此之外，我没有别的要求。
- To refer back to a whole preceding situation in formal or organized discourse.
Don't use it when
- When the excluded noun has not been mentioned and 此 has no recoverable reference.
- Do not split the fixed expression by moving 还 or 也 inside 除此之外.
- Do not assume it always means addition; negative context can mean 'apart from this, nothing else.'
Right vs. wrong
课程有听力和口语，除还此之外，有写作练习。
课程有听力和口语，除此之外，还有写作练习。
The fixed expression is split by the additive adverb 还
除此之外 is one fixed connective. Place 还 after the complete expression to introduce the added item.
除此，课程还有写作练习之外。
除此之外，课程还有写作练习。
之外 is placed after the following clause
Keep 除此之外 together at the start of the added statement; 之外 cannot be postponed to the end here.
Examples
课程包括听力和口语，除此之外，还有写作练习。
Kèchéng bāokuò tīnglì hé kǒuyǔ, chúcǐ zhīwài, hái yǒu xiězuò liànxí.
The course includes listening and speaking; besides that, it has writing practice.
除此之外，我没有别的要求。
Chúcǐ zhīwài, wǒ méiyǒu bié de yāoqiú.
Apart from that, I have no other requests.
他负责预算，除此之外，也会参加面试。
Tā fùzé yùsuàn, chúcǐ zhīwài, yě huì cānjiā miànshì.
He handles the budget and will also take part in the interviews.
Common mistakes
课程有听力和口语，除还此之外，有写作练习。
Kèchéng yǒu tīnglì hé kǒuyǔ, chú hái cǐ zhīwài, yǒu xiězuò liànxí.
Keep 除此之外 together and put 还 after it: 除此之外，还有写作练习。
除此，课程还有写作练习之外。
Chúcǐ, kèchéng hái yǒu xiězuò liànxí zhīwài.
Use the fixed connective together: 除此之外，课程还有写作练习。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 除此之外 sentence and check that grammar point first.
除此之外 (chúcǐ zhīwài) FAQ
What does 此 refer to in 除此之外?
此 refers back to something already mentioned: an item, fact, action, or entire situation. The reader or listener must be able to recover that reference from context.
Does 除此之外 always introduce an additional item?
No. With 还 or 也 it often adds information, but with negative wording it can exclude the prior item and say nothing else remains, as in 除此之外，没有别的办法.