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

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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 () which means 'by means of', and (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.

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.

Examples

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    メアリー以外(いがい)(だれ)()なかった。

    No one except Mary came.

    それ以外(いがい)()てない

    I haven't heard anything other than that.

    納豆(なっとう)以外(いがい)(なん)でも()られる

    I can eat anything other than natto.

    (かれ)()れたこと以外(いがい)(なに)しない

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

    それ以外(いがい)()きなことないの?

    Don't you have anything you like besides that?

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いがい – Grammar Discussion