Except, besides, in addition to — 除了 is the particle that either carves an exception out of a universal statement or adds one more item to a set. Which meaning it carries depends entirely on the particle that follows: 都 signals exclusion; 还/也 signals inclusion.
概览gàilǎnTwo Uses — The Critical Distinction
语法洞见 yǔfǎ dòngjiàn · Grammar Insight
除了 chúle = 除 chú (to remove; to exclude; division in math) + 了 le (aspect marker used here as part of the preposition). The character 除 already contains the key meaning: to remove something from a set.
Pattern 1 — Exclusion (except): 除了 + [exception] + 以外/之外, [rest of set] + 都 + [Verb Phrase]. The 都 (all) signals that the statement applies to every member of the set except the item named after 除了. 除了他，大家都来了 = "Except for him, everyone came." The 以外/之外 is optional but common in formal speech.
Pattern 2 — Inclusion (besides/in addition to): 除了 + [base] + 以外/之外, [Subject] + 还/也 + [Verb Phrase]. The 还 (also; in addition) or 也 (also) signals that something is added to an already existing set. 除了英语，她还会法语 = "Besides English, she also knows French." This is the inverse of Pattern 1: instead of removing an item, you are naming a base and then adding more.
The two patterns are disambiguated by the correlating adverb: 都 → exclusion / 还·也 → inclusion. This is the single most important rule for this structure.
排除páichúExclusion — Except (除了…都)
排除句型 páichú jùxíng · Exclusion Pattern除了 + [Exception] (以外/之外), [Subject] + 都 + [VP]
除了周末，他每天都来上班。Except for weekends, he comes to work every day.
除了咖啡，我什么都不喝。Except for coffee, I don't drink anything.
除了她，大家都同意了。Except for her, everyone agreed.
除了这件，别的衣服都太贵了。Except for this one, all the other clothes are too expensive.
The exclusion frame: 除了 names the exception, 都 sweeps up the remainder. The structure can also be negated: 除了…，都不… (none except for X). 除了他，我谁都不认识 = "Except for him, I don't know anyone" — note the 都不 (none). Useful contrast: 只有 zhǐyǒu (only) is a related exclusive: 只有他来了 (only he came) = 除了他，别人都没来 (except for him, no one else came).
除了下雨，他每天都去跑步。
Chúle xià yǔ, tā měitiān dōu qù pǎobù.
Except when it rains, he goes running every day.
除了这道题，其他题我都做完了。
Chúle zhè dào tí, qítā tí wǒ dōu zuò wán le.
Except for this problem, I've finished all the other questions.
包括bāokuòInclusion — Besides / In Addition To (除了…还/也)
包括句型 bāokuò jùxíng · Inclusion Pattern除了 + [Base] (以外/之外), [Subject] + 还/也 + [VP]
除了中文，她还会英文和法文。Besides Chinese, she also knows English and French.
除了工作，我还有很多爱好。Besides work, I also have many hobbies.
除了买书，他们还参观了博物馆。Besides buying books, they also visited a museum.
除了…还/也 (inclusion)chúle … hái / yěbesides [X], [Subject] also [VP]
Structure 句型 jùxíng
The inclusion frame: 除了 names the base that is already assumed or established; 还 or 也 signals that the new information adds to that base rather than replacing it. 还 (in addition, moreover) is slightly more common than 也 (also) in this construction. 此外 cǐwài (besides this; in addition — more formal) and 另外 lìngwài (in addition; separately) are near-synonyms in formal writing. 不但…而且 bùdàn…érqiě (not only…but also) is a related additive structure with stronger emphasis.
除了会弹钢琴，她还会拉小提琴。
Chúle huì tán gāngqín, tā hái huì lā xiǎotíqín.
Besides being able to play piano, she can also play violin.
除了价格贵，这家餐厅其实很不错。
Chúle jiàgé guì, zhè jiā cāntīng qíshí hěn bùcuò.
Besides being expensive, this restaurant is actually quite good.
例句lìjùExtended Examples — Natural Contexts
除了 across contextsnatural usageExclusion and inclusion in everyday conversation
Examples 例句
Both exclusion and inclusion patterns in natural speech, including ambiguous cases that require context.