Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 5: 8/20

以外(いがい)

Except・besides, Other than, With the exception of

Structure

Verb + 以外(いがい)
Noun + 以外(いがい)

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About いがい

In order to mark something as 'except (A)', or 'besides (A)', 以外(いがい) will be used. This construction is a combination of the kanji 以(い) which means 'by means of', and 外(がい) 'outside'. This expression can most accurately be translated as 'with the exception of (A)', or 'everything outside of (A)'.
To use 以外(いがい), attach it to the thing that you want to highlight as being the 'all inclusive' amount/area.
  • 今日(きょう)は和食(わしょく)いがいのものが食(た)べたい。
    Today I want to eat something other than Japanese food.
  • タロウはゲームいがいに趣味(しゅみ)はあるの？
    Taro, do you have any other interests besides gaming?
Fun Fact
以外(いがい) is also regularly used simply as an expression of surprise, when someone sees, hears, or reads something that is 'outside' of what they expected. However, in these cases, the more correct kanji construction is 意外(いがい) 'out of mind'. This is a regular mistake that even native speakers make, so in many cases, either 意外(いがい) or 以外(いがい) would be understandable.
  • たかし君(くん)もアニメ好(す)きなの？ちょっといがいだね。
    Takashi-kun, do you like anime too? I'm a little surprised.
  • 俺(おれ)こう見(み)えても意外(いがい)に肉(にく)を食(た)べないの。
    It may come off as a surprise based on how I look, but I don't eat meat.

Examples

  • メアリー以外(いがい)、誰(だれ)も来(こ)なかった。

    No one except Mary came.

  • 今(いま)まで漢字(かんじ)以外(いがい)、何(なに)も勉強(べんきょう)していなかった。

    Until now, I haven't been studying anything except kanji.

  • それ以外(いがい)、聞(き)いてないよ。

    I haven't heard anything other than that.

  • 納豆(なっとう)以外(いがい)何(なん)でも食(た)べられる。

    I can eat anything other than natto.

  • 彼(かれ)は言(い)われたこと以外(いがい)何(なに)もしないよ。

    He will not do anything other than what he is told.

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いがい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (11 in total)

  • ixxie

    ixxie

    I have a question about an example sentence.

    今日()は和食()いがいのものが食()べたい。
    Today I want to eat something other than Japanese food.

    The use of 以外 here is actually straightforward. I’m having trouble understanding the particles のもの。What are they doing in this sentence?

  • IcyIceBear

    IcyIceBear

    Only one particle there, the first の. Following that is もの as in 物 thing. 以外の物 “a thing other than”

  • ixxie

    ixxie

    AHA! it makes perfect sense now! Thank you!

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