lìwài: 例外 - Exception, Special Case

• Keywords: 例外, liwai, exception in Chinese, how to say special case in Chinese, 例外 meaning, Chinese grammar exception, lìwài usage, Chinese word for exception, rule breaking in Chinese
• Summary: Discover the meaning and usage of 例外 (lìwài), the essential Chinese word for “exception” or “special case.” This comprehensive guide explores its character origins, cultural significance, and practical application in modern Mandarin. Learn how to use 例外 (lìwài) in ten distinct example sentences to master the art of describing situations, people, or things that don't conform to the general rule, a crucial skill for nuanced communication.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lìwài
• Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A person, thing, or circumstance that does not conform to a general rule or principle.
• In a Nutshell: 例外 (lìwài) is the direct and most common way to say “exception” in Chinese. Think of it as anything that falls “outside the established examples or rules.” It’s a logical and straightforward term used to point out something that doesn't fit the pattern, whether it's a person, an event, or a specific situation.

• 例 (lì): This character means “example,” “precedent,” or “rule.” You can see it in words like 例子 (lìzi - example) and 照例 (zhàolì - as a rule, as usual). It represents the established norm or pattern.
• 外 (wài): This character simply means “outside” or “external.” It's one of the first characters learners encounter, used in words like 外国 (wàiguó - foreign country) and 外面 (wàimiàn - outside).
• When combined, 例外 (lìwài) literally means “outside the rule” or “external to the precedent.” This beautiful and logical construction makes its meaning very clear: something that exists beyond the standard set of examples or regulations.

While “exception” is a universal concept, the idea of being an 例外 (lìwài) in Chinese culture can carry different weight than in the West. In a society that often prioritizes harmony (和谐, héxié), collective good, and adherence to established norms, being an “exception” can be a significant status. Unlike in Western cultures where individualism and “being the exception to the rule” are often celebrated as signs of innovation or genius, being an 例外 in a Chinese context can be viewed more neutrally or even negatively, depending on the situation. It can imply someone is special and talented, but it can also suggest someone is disruptive or fails to conform. For instance, in a business or bureaucratic setting, getting an exception (得到一个例外) is a very big deal. Policies (规定, guīdìng) are often applied strictly, and bending them requires significant justification or high-level approval. Therefore, being granted an exception is not a trivial matter; it's a conscious deviation from the standard operating procedure.

例外 is a versatile and common word used across all levels of formality, from casual conversation to legal documents.

• As a Noun: This is its most common usage. It refers directly to the concept of an exception.
  • e.g., “这是一个例外.” (Zhè shì yí ge lìwài.) - “This is an exception.”
• As an Adjective: It can be used to describe a situation as being exceptional.
  • e.g., “这次的情况很例外.” (Zhè cì de qíngkuàng hěn lìwài.) - “The situation this time is an exception.”
• In Set Phrases: 例外 appears in several common idioms.
  • 毫无例外 (háo wú lìwài): Without exception. This is used to emphasize that a rule applies to absolutely everyone or everything.
  • 凡事总有例外 (fánshì zǒng yǒu lìwài): There is an exception to every rule. This is a philosophical observation, much like its English equivalent.

• Example 1:
  • 规定是每个人都必须参加，但他生病了，所以是个例外。
  • Pinyin: Guīdìng shì měi ge rén dōu bìxū cānjiā, dàn tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ shì ge lìwài.
  • English: The rule is that everyone must attend, but he is sick, so he is an exception.
  • Analysis: A classic and straightforward use of 例外 as a noun to describe a person who doesn't have to follow a specific rule.
• Example 2:
  • 在我们公司，毫无例外，所有员工都必须准时上班。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒmen gōngsī, háo wú lìwài, suǒyǒu yuángōng dōu bìxū zhǔnshí shàngbān.
  • English: In our company, without exception, all employees must arrive at work on time.
  • Analysis: This showcases the common set phrase 毫无例外 (háo wú lìwài), used to stress the absolute universality of a rule.
• Example 3:
  • 我通常不吃甜点，但今天的提拉米苏是个例外。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ tōngcháng bù chī tiándiǎn, dàn jīntiān de tílāmǐsū shì ge lìwài.
  • English: I don't usually eat dessert, but today's tiramisu is an exception.
  • Analysis: This example shows how 例外 can be used in a personal, informal context to describe a deviation from one's own habits.
• Example 4:
  • 凡事总有例外，你不能把所有情况都想得那么绝对。
  • Pinyin: Fánshì zǒng yǒu lìwài, nǐ bùnéng bǎ suǒyǒu qíngkuàng dōu xiǎng de nàme juéduì.
  • English: There's an exception to every rule; you can't think of every situation in such absolute terms.
  • Analysis: This uses the common saying 凡事总有例外 to offer a piece of advice or philosophical wisdom.
• Example 5:
  • 这家商店全年无休，春节是一个例外。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā shāngdiàn quán nián wú xiū, Chūnjié shì yí ge lìwài.
  • English: This store is open all year round; the Spring Festival is an exception.
  • Analysis: Here, 例外 is used to specify the only time a general rule (being open all year) does not apply.
• Example 6:
  • 除了少数例外情况，这个地区的夏天总是很热。
  • Pinyin: Chúle shǎoshù lìwài qíngkuàng, zhè ge dìqū de xiàtiān zǒngshì hěn rè.
  • English: Apart from a few exceptional circumstances, the summers in this region are always very hot.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the common collocation 例外情况 (lìwài qíngkuàng), meaning “exceptional circumstances” or “special cases.”
• Example 7:
  • 你不能总是要求别人为你破例，你不是例外。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng zǒngshì yāoqiú biérén wèi nǐ pòlì, nǐ búshì lìwài.
  • English: You can't always ask others to make an exception for you, you are not an exception.
  • Analysis: A good example of using 例外 in the negative to emphasize that someone is subject to the same rules as everyone else.
• Example 8:
  • 我们不能为任何人开例外，否则规定就没意义了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng wèi rènhé rén kāi lìwài, fǒuzé guīdìng jiù méi yìyì le.
  • English: We can't make an exception for anyone, otherwise the rules would be meaningless.
  • Analysis: The phrase “开例外 (kāi lìwài)” is a common verb-object phrase meaning “to make an exception” (literally “to open an exception”).
• Example 9:
  • 大多数鸟都会飞，但企鹅和鸵鸟是明显的例外。
  • Pinyin: Dàduōshù niǎo dōu huì fēi, dàn qǐ'é hé tuóniǎo shì míngxiǎn de lìwài.
  • English: Most birds can fly, but penguins and ostriches are obvious exceptions.
  • Analysis: This shows 例外 used in a scientific or factual context to describe outliers in a category.
• Example 10:
  • 他的成功不是例外，而是努力工作的结果。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénggōng búshì lìwài, érshì nǔlì gōngzuò de jiéguǒ.
  • English: His success is not an exception (or a fluke), but rather the result of hard work.
  • Analysis: Here, 例外 is used to argue that something is not a rare occurrence but a predictable outcome, contrasting it with a normal, achievable result.

A frequent point of confusion for English speakers is the difference between 例外 (lìwài) and 特别 (tèbié). They can both seem related to the English word “special,” but they are not interchangeable.

• 例外 (lìwài): Means “exception.” It defines something by its relationship to a rule. It is about non-conformity.
• 特别 (tèbié): Means “special” or “particular.” It describes an inherent quality of something. It is about being unique or different.

Common Mistake: Using 例外 to mean “special” or “outstanding.”

• Incorrect: 他是一个很例外的人。(Tā shì yí ge hěn lìwài de rén.)
  • This sounds very awkward in Chinese, like saying “He is a very exception person.”
• Correct: 他是一个很特别的人。(Tā shì yí ge hěn tèbié de rén.)
  • This means “He is a very special person,” describing his unique character.
• Correct: 在我们都失败的时候，他成功了，他是一个例外。(Zài wǒmen dōu shībài de shíhou, tā chénggōng le, tā shì yí ge lìwài.)
  • This means “When we all failed, he succeeded; he is an exception.” This is correct because his status is defined in relation to the rule/pattern (everyone else failing).

In short, a person can be 特别 (tèbié) because of their personality, but they are an 例外 (lìwài) because they don't follow the same rules as others.

• 规定 (guīdìng) - Regulation, rule. This is the context or norm that an 例外 stands outside of.
• 破例 (pòlì) - To make an exception (lit. “to break the rule”). This is the verb for allowing an 例外 to happen.
• 一般 (yìbān) - General, common, ordinary. This is a direct antonym for something that is an exception. What is not 例外 is often 一般.
• 正常 (zhèngcháng) - Normal. Another key antonym.
• 特殊 (tèshū) - Special, particular. A more formal synonym for 特别 (tèbié). It describes a unique quality, not a relationship to a rule.
• 常规 (chángguī) - Convention, routine, common practice. An exception is a deviation from the 常规.
• 唯一 (wéiyī) - Only, sole. An 例外 is often the 唯一 case that doesn't follow a rule.
• 原则 (yuánzé) - Principle. A rule or principle (原则) is what might have an exception (例外). A common phrase is “原则上…但是有例外” (In principle… but there are exceptions).