The structure “除了……以外，都/还/也……”

In Chinese, 除了……以外 (chúle... yǐwài) is used in two primary ways depending on context: exclusion (“except for...”) or addition (“besides / in addition to...”).

1. Exclusion: 除了……(以外)，都……

Used when an item or person is excluded from a group, and the rest of the group shares the same situation or condition. The word 以外 (yǐwài) can be omitted.

除了 + Excluded Item + (以外), Rest + 都 + Verb

除(Chú)了(le)这(zhè)个(ge)汉(hàn)字(zì)以(yǐ)外(wài)，别(bié)的(de)汉(hàn)字(zì)我(wǒ)都(dōu)认(rèn)识(shi)。

Except for this Chinese character, I know all the other Chinese characters.

除(Chú)了(le)我(wǒ)以(yǐ)外(wài)，大(dà)家(jiā)都(dōu)听(tīng)懂(dǒng)了(le)。

Except for me, everyone understood.

除(Chú)了(le)这(zhè)个(ge)句(jù)子(zi)意(yì)思(si)有(yǒu)些(xiē)不(bù)清(qīng)楚(chu)外(wài)，其(qí)他(tā)都(dōu)没(méi)什(shén)么(me)问(wèn)题(tí)。

Except that the meaning of this sentence is a bit unclear, everything else is fine.

除(Chú)了(le)小(Xiǎo)云(yún)，其(qí)他(tā)人(rén)都(dōu)来(lái)了(le)。

Except for Xiaoyun, everyone else came.

2. Addition: 除了……(以外)，还/也……

Used when adding more information, items, or actions to what has already been mentioned. The subject can be placed at the very beginning of the sentence or right before 还 / 也.

除了 + Item 1 + (以外), (Subject) + 还 / 也 + Item 2 / Verb

除(Chú)了(le)唱(chàng)歌(gē)以(yǐ)外(wài)，他(tā)还(hái)喜(xǐ)欢(huan)跳(tiào)舞(wǔ)。

Besides singing, he also likes dancing.

除(Chú)了(le)汉(Hàn)语(yǔ)以(yǐ)外(wài)，我(wǒ)还(hái)会(huì)说(shuō)英(Yīng)语(yǔ)。

Besides Chinese, I can also speak English.

上(Shàng)网(wǎng)除(chú)了(le)看(kàn)新(xīn)闻(wén)，还(hái)可(kě)以(yǐ)听(tīng)音(yīn)乐(yuè)。

Besides reading news, going online can also be used to listen to music.

除(Chú)了(le)春(Chūn)节(jié)、中(Zhōng)秋(qiū)节(jié)以(yǐ)外(wài)，啤(pí)酒(jiǔ)节(jié)也(yě)是(shì)这(zhè)里(lǐ)很(hěn)重(zhòng)要(yào)的(de)一(yí)个(gè)节(jié)日(rì)。

Besides the Spring Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, the beer festival is also a very important festival here.

Important Note

When paired with 都 (dōu) in the second clause = exclusion. When paired with 还 (hái) or 也 (yě) in the second clause = addition. 以外 (yǐwài) can be dropped in both patterns, leaving just the shortened form 除了…….