Ch 29 · Lesson 17Mandarin · Chapter 29 · Lesson 17 · Grammar primer
之外 and 除此之外: the formal closers
is the written , … sits on signs, and opens a sentence: on top of that. The same and decide the meaning.
The short version
，。Chú cǐ zhīwài, wǒmen hái xūyào yìxiē qián.
Why?Hide
(zhīwài) is the formal twin of (yǐwài). Put (cǐ), a written 'this', in the gap and you get a sentence opener that points back at what was just said. (hái) after it adds and (dōu) excludes, as usual.
之外 (zhīwài) and 除…外 (chú…wài): the formal closers
The frame has a register ladder. The meaning never changes; only the voice does:
- 除了 X chúle: speech
- 除了 X 以外 chúle…yǐwài: anywhere
- 除了 X 之外 chúle…zhīwài: careful writing
- 除 X 外 chú…wài: notices and formal writing
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Chúle zhège wèntí zhīwài, biéde wǒ dōu tóngyì. | Apart from this point, I agree with the rest |
，。 | Chúle tā zhīwài, hái yǒu liǎng ge rén zhīdào. | Besides him, two other people know |
，。 | Chú zhōumò wài, měi tiān dōu kāimén. | Open every day except weekends |
Use (yǐwài) by default and (zhīwài) in an essay or a formal email. Recognise … (chú…wài) on a sign; you will rarely need to say it.
除此之外 (chú cǐ zhīwài): on top of that
Put (cǐ), a written word for "this", in the X slot and you get a sentence opener that points back at what was just said. The same deciders apply:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Chú cǐ zhīwài, wǒmen hái xūyào yìxiē qián. | On top of that, we also need some money |
，。 | Chú cǐ zhīwài, tóngshì yě hěn hǎo. | On top of that, my colleagues are nice too |
，。 | Chú cǐ zhīwài, biéde dōu hěn hǎo. | Apart from that, everything else is fine |
(chú cǐ yǐwài) means the same. Both are at home in essays, where they link two points without repeating the first.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
，。 | ，。 | "except" needs (dōu) |
，。 | ，。 | "besides" needs (hái) or (yě) |
，。 | ，。 | (dōu) goes after the subject |
，。 | ，。 | one closer: (yǐwài) or (zhīwài) |
Going further: The whole system on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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