Structure
Verb + 以外
Noun + 以外
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About いがい
In order to mark something as 'except (A)', or 'besides (A)', 以外 will be used. This construction is a combination of the kanji 以 which means 'by means of', and 外 'outside'. This expression can most accurately be translated as 'with the exception of (A)', or 'everything outside of (A)'.
To use 以外, attach it to the thing that you want to highlight as being the 'all inclusive' amount/area.
To use 以外, attach it to the thing that you want to highlight as being the 'all inclusive' amount/area.
- 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.
- タロウはゲームいがいに趣味はあるの?Taro, do you have any other interests besides gaming?
Fun Fact
以外 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 'out of mind'. This is a regular mistake that even native speakers make, so in many cases, either 意外 or 以外 would be understandable.- たかし君もアニメ好きなの?ちょっといがいだね。Takashi-kun, do you like anime too? I'm a little surprised.
- 俺こう見えても意外に肉を食べないの。It may come off as a surprise based on how I look, but I don't eat meat.
Synonyms
Examples
メアリー以外、誰も来なかった。
No one except Mary came.
今まで漢字以外、何も勉強していなかった。
Until now, I haven't been studying anything except kanji.
それ以外、聞いてないよ。
I haven't heard anything other than that.
納豆以外何でも食べられる。
I can eat anything other than natto.
彼は言われたこと以外何もしないよ。
He will not do anything other than what he is told.
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Adverbial Nouns
Imabi
以外 in various situations
Japanese For Beginners
Different ways of saying "except"
Self Taught Japanese
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Tobira
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[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
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いがい – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (11 in total)
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
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
AHA! it makes perfect sense now! Thank you!
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