English "another" quietly does two different jobs — "one more of the same" (another cup of tea) and "a different, separate one" (let's use another room). Chinese pulls these apart, and 另外 (lìngwài) sits squarely on the separate / different side: 另 means "other, apart," so 另外 always sets a thing aside from the one already in view. This page covers three faces of that idea — the determiner 另外 ("another, separate one"), the discourse opener 另外 ("on a separate note…"), and the formal 此外 ("furthermore") — and draws the sharp line between 另外 (a specific different one) and 别的 (some other, unspecified). The plain "and also" connector 另外 that simply piles on one more point is handled under 而且 / 并且 / 再说 / 另外; here we focus on the separateness that makes 另外 special.
另外 as a determiner — "another (separate) one"
In front of a number + measure word + noun, 另外 means "a separate / different one," setting it apart from whatever you already have. The 一 is often kept (另外一个) but can drop to give 另一个 (lìng yí ge), which is a touch more written.
| Pattern | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 另外一个人 | lìngwài yí ge rén | a different / separate person |
| 另外买一个 | lìngwài mǎi yí ge | buy a separate / additional one |
| 另一个办法 | lìng yí ge bànfǎ | another (separate) method |
这个不行，你能不能给我另外一个？
zhège bù xíng, nǐ néng bu néng gěi wǒ lìngwài yí ge?
This one won't do — can you give me a different one? (neutral)
这件太小了，我想另外买一件。
zhè jiàn tài xiǎo le, wǒ xiǎng lìngwài mǎi yí jiàn
This one's too small; I want to buy a separate one. (informal)
他们另外找了一个人来做这件事。
tāmen lìngwài zhǎo le yí ge rén lái zuò zhè jiàn shì
They brought in a separate person to handle this. (neutral)
另外 vs 别的 vs 其他 — three flavours of "other"
All three touch "other," but they aim at different things. 另外(一个) points at a specific, additional, set-apart one — you have a particular different item in mind. 别的 (bié de) is open-ended "some other(s)," an unspecified alternative that stands alone without a number. And 其他 (qítā) "the other(s), the rest" names the remaining ones as a set — the complement of whatever you've already singled out.
这件我不喜欢，有没有别的？
zhè jiàn wǒ bù xǐhuan, yǒu méi yǒu bié de?
I don't like this one — do you have any others? (informal) — open-ended 'others.'
我没别的意思，就是随便问问。
wǒ méi bié de yìsi, jiùshì suíbiàn wèn wen
I didn't mean anything by it — I was just asking. (informal) — 别的 in the set phrase 没别的意思.
除了小王，其他人都到了。
chúle Xiǎo Wáng, qítā rén dōu dào le
Apart from Xiao Wang, everyone else has arrived. (neutral) — 其他 = the rest of the known group.
The bare morpheme 另 (lìng) also lives on in set, written-flavoured phrases where 另外 would feel too loose: 另有安排 "have other arrangements," 另请高明 "find someone better qualified (a polite brush-off)," 另当别论 "that's a separate matter." Recognise these as fixed idioms rather than trying to build them yourself.
抱歉，我那天另有安排，去不了了。
bàoqiàn, wǒ nà tiān lìng yǒu ānpái, qù bu liǎo le
Sorry, I've got other plans that day, so I can't make it. (neutral) — 另有安排 as a set phrase.
Discourse 另外 — opening a genuinely separate item
At the front of a sentence, set off by a comma, 另外 opens a new, separate matter — "on a separate note…", "also, apart from that…". It signals a genuine change of topic, not just more of the same thread. This is why it's so at home in messages and to-do lists, where you stack up unrelated items.
另外，我还想跟你说一件事。
lìngwài, wǒ hái xiǎng gēn nǐ shuō yí jiàn shì
Also — separately — there's one more thing I want to tell you. (neutral)
报告我已经发给你了。另外，明天的会改到十点了。
bàogào wǒ yǐjīng fā gěi nǐ le. lìngwài, míngtiān de huì gǎi dào shí diǎn le
I've already sent you the report. Also, tomorrow's meeting has been moved to ten. (neutral) — a fresh, unrelated point.
The dividing line with the plain additive connector matters: 另外 is for a separate item. When the second point simply continues the same idea ("nice scenery, and the air's fresh too"), you want 而且 or 也, not 另外 — see the additive connectors.
此外 — the formal "furthermore"
此外 (cǐwài, literally "apart from this") is the written / formal counterpart, the "furthermore / in addition" of essays, reports, and official notices. It opens a new supporting point in an argument and would sound stilted in casual chat, where 另外 does the job.
本次活动免费，此外还提供午餐。
běn cì huódòng miǎnfèi, cǐwài hái tígōng wǔcān
This event is free; in addition, lunch is provided. (formal — notice)
新政策提高了效率，此外也降低了成本。
xīn zhèngcè tígāo le xiàolǜ, cǐwài yě jiàngdī le chéngběn
The new policy raised efficiency; furthermore, it lowered costs. (formal — report)
Common Mistakes
1. Saying 别的一个 for "a different one." 别的 is unspecified and takes no number; a specific separate one is 另外一个.
❌ 这个不好，给我别的一个。
Not idiomatic — 别的 takes no number; use 另外一个 (a specific different one) or bare 别的: 给我另外一个.
✅ 这个不好，给我另外一个。
zhège bù hǎo, gěi wǒ lìngwài yí ge
This one's no good — give me a different one.
2. Using formal 此外 in casual speech. Over dinner or in a text, 此外 sounds like a written report; use 另外.
❌ 我要点一杯咖啡，此外再来一块蛋糕。（口语）
Register clash — 此外 is written/formal; in speech use 另外: …另外再来一块蛋糕。
✅ 我要点一杯咖啡，另外再来一块蛋糕。
wǒ yào diǎn yì bēi kāfēi, lìngwài zài lái yí kuài dàngāo
I'll have a coffee, and also a slice of cake. (informal)
3. Using 另外 / 此外 to join two bare nouns. Like the other connectors, they open a clause; two nouns take 和.
❌ 我买了苹果另外香蕉。
Wrong connector — 另外 doesn't join nouns; two nouns take 和: 苹果和香蕉.
✅ 我买了苹果和香蕉。
wǒ mǎi le píngguǒ hé xiāngjiāo
I bought apples and bananas.
4. Using 另外 where the point just continues the same thread. 另外 flags a separate matter; for more of the same idea, use 而且 or 也.
❌ 这里风景好，另外空气也很新鲜。
Slightly off — the same thread (why the place is nice) wants continuative 而且; 另外 implies a separate topic: …而且空气也很新鲜。
✅ 这里风景好，而且空气也很新鲜。
zhèlǐ fēngjǐng hǎo, érqiě kōngqì yě hěn xīnxiān
The scenery here is lovely, and the air is fresh too.
Key Takeaways
- 另 means "other, apart," so 另外 always sets a thing aside — it's about separateness, not just "and."
- As a determiner, 另外 (+ number + MW) = "a separate / different one": 另外一个, 另外买一个, or the tighter 另一个.
- 另外 vs 别的: 另外一个 is a specific different one you have in mind; 别的 is some unspecified other, and it takes no number.
- As a discourse opener, 另外 launches a genuinely separate item ("on a separate note…"); for more of the same thread use 而且 / 也.
- 此外 is the formal "furthermore" of essays and reports; the plain "and also" connector 另外 lives with 而且 / 并且 / 再说.
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- 比如/例如 — For ExampleHSK 3 — 比如 (bǐrú) and 例如 (lìrú) both mean 'for example,' but they split by register: 比如 is the spoken 'like / for instance,' 例如 the written 'e.g.'. Both come BEFORE the examples — never after — and the listed items are joined by the enumeration comma 、, often closing with 等 / 等等 'and so on'.