另外 (in addition)

• Pinyin: lìngwài
• Formation: Clause 1, 另外, Clause 2 :: 另外 + Verb Phrase
• Hanzi breakdown: 另 = 口 (mouth) + 力 (power); 外 = 夕 (evening) + 卜 (divination)

Meaning

The word 另外 means 'in addition,' 'besides,' or 'another.' It introduces supplementary information or an additional point, functioning as either a conjunction between clauses or an attributive before a verb phrase.

另外 has two main uses: as a conjunctive adverb meaning 'in addition' or 'moreover,' and as a determiner meaning 'another' or 'other.' As a conjunction, it typically appears at the beginning of a second clause or sentence to add new information: 我买了水果，另外还买了蔬菜. As a determiner, it precedes a number + measure word + noun: 另外三个人. Learners should distinguish 另外 from 除了...以外 (which sets aside an item for comparison) and from 而且 (which strengthens the same point rather than adding a new one). 另外 introduces genuinely separate, additional information. In formal contexts, 此外 serves a similar function but is more literary.

Examples

1. 这件衣服颜色不好看，另外价格也太贵了。 This piece of clothing doesn't look good in colour, and also the price is too expensive.
2. 我已经买了牛奶，另外还需要买面包。 I've already bought milk; in addition I still need to buy bread.
3. 另外两个同学明天才到。 The other two classmates won't arrive until tomorrow.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 你先去超市买菜，另外帮我拿一瓶酱油。
• 报告写完了，另外还要准备明天的演讲。
• 这本书很好，另外我还推荐那本。

Don't Say

• 我喜欢吃苹果另外香蕉。(另外 connects clauses or sentences, not individual nouns — use 和 to connect nouns directly) → 我喜欢吃苹果和香蕉。
• 另外，他很高。所以另外，他打篮球。(Do not chain 另外 in consecutive sentences — it sounds repetitive and unnatural) → 另外，他很高，所以他打篮球。

Origin & History

另 means 'separate' or 'other,' and 外 means 'outside.' Together, 另外 literally means 'on another outside' — i.e., beyond what has been mentioned. It became a standard conjunctive adverb in modern Mandarin for introducing supplementary points.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal