ceoi4 liu5 zi1 ngoi6除了之外
Jyutpingceoi4 liu5 zi1 ngoi6
Yalechèuih líuh jī ngoih
Definition
Apart from, other than, or except.
writtencommunication
How it's used
Although this structure is widely understood, it is essentially a written form borrowed from Mandarin. In natural spoken Cantonese, speakers frequently drop the final 之外 and simply use 除了 at the beginning of the clause, or use 仲有 instead to express the same meaning. Using the full form can sound slightly formal or like someone reading from a script.
Examples
Apart from him, no one knows about this.
Besides working, what else do you do?
Related words
Common phrases
apart from... all/every
Common mistake
Learners often over-rely on this structure because it matches their native language or textbook Mandarin. In casual conversation, it is much more common and natural to use 仲有 or 除咗嚟之外 to connect ideas.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
