How to Say “Besides” with 另外 (lìngwài)
另外 (lìngwài) means “besides / in addition,” and you use it to raise a separate extra point after one statement: 这家餐厅很贵。另外，服务也不好 (“this restaurant is expensive; besides, the service isn’t good”). It opens the new point, usually with 也 or 还 in the clause. As an adverb it means “another / separately” before a verb: 我们另外约时间 (“let’s set another time”).
Why this trips learners up
When you have made one point and want to add a separate one, Chinese often reaches for 另外 (lìngwài), a slightly more formal “besides / in addition / what’s more.” It opens the new sentence, set off by a comma, and the clause behind it usually carries 也 or 还: [Statement] ，另外，[Added point]. 这家餐厅很贵，另外，服务也不好 (“this restaurant is pricey; besides, the service isn’t good either”), 我今天很累，另外，我还有点不舒服 (“I’m tired today; on top of that, I feel a bit off”).
The feeling 另外 carries is “a separate, additional matter,” a new angle rather than just one more of the same. That sense of separateness is why it also works as an adverb meaning “another / separately” right before a verb: 今天没时间，我们另外约时间吧 (“no time today, let’s fix another time”), 这个颜色卖完了，你可以另外选一个 (“this colour’s sold out, you can pick a different one”), 押金要另外付 (“the deposit is paid separately”). Same word, same core idea of “a further, separate one.”
Keep 另外 apart from 和. 和 only glues two nouns into one phrase (游泳和跑步, “swimming and running”); it can’t bolt two sentences together. To add a whole new point you need 另外 (or 还有), not 和. And as a connector 另外 leads the added point, at the front of the new sentence, never tacked on at the end the way English can trail “…, besides.”
Its closest neighbour is 还有. Both add “also,” but they feel different: 还有 simply tacks one more item onto the list you are already giving (我要这个菜，还有一碗汤), while 另外 opens a separate extra point, or does something “another way” (我们另外想个办法). When the next thing is just one more item, reach for 还有; when it is a fresh, separate consideration, 另外 fits better.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
zhè jiā cāntīng 这家餐厅 Subject hěn guì 很贵 Adjective lìngwài 另外 Pattern fúwù 服务 Subject yě 也 Adverb bù hǎo 不好 Adjective
This restaurant is expensive. Besides, the service isn’t good either (a second, separate complaint, with 也).
wǒ 我 Subject jīntiān 今天 Time hěn lèi 很累 Adjective lìngwài 另外 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject hái 还 Adverb yǒudiǎn 有点 Adverb bù shūfu 不舒服 Adjective
I’m tired today. On top of that, I feel a bit unwell (a separate point, with 还).
zhège fángjiān 这个房间 Subject hěn xiǎo 很小 Adjective lìngwài 另外 Pattern guāngxiàn 光线 Subject yě 也 Adverb bú tài hǎo 不太好 Adjective
This room is small. In addition, the light isn’t great either (with 也).
huìyì 会议 Subject gǎi dào 改到 Verb xiàwǔ sān diǎn 下午三点 Time lìngwài 另外 Pattern dìdiǎn 地点 Subject yě 也 Adverb huàn le 换了 Verb
The meeting has moved to 3pm. Also, the location has changed (with 也).
zhège shǒujī 这个手机 Subject hěn qīng 很轻 Adjective lìngwài 另外 Pattern jiàgé 价格 Subject hái 还 Adverb hěn hélǐ 很合理 Adjective
This phone is light. What’s more, the price is quite reasonable (with 还).
jīntiān 今天 Time méi 没 Negation shíjiān 时间 Object wǒmen 我们 Subject lìngwài 另外 Pattern yuē 约 Verb shíjiān 时间 Object ba 吧 Function word
No time today, let’s set another time (另外 as “another,” before the verb 约).
zhège yánsè 这个颜色 Subject mài wán le 卖完了 Verb nǐ 你 Subject kěyǐ 可以 Function word lìngwài 另外 Pattern xuǎn 选 Verb yí gè 一个 Measure word
This colour is sold out, you can pick a different one (另外 = “another / separately”).
yuánlái de fāng’àn 原来的方案 Subject bù xíng 不行 Verb wǒmen 我们 Subject děi 得 Function word lìngwài 另外 Pattern xiǎng 想 Verb gè 个 Measure word bànfǎ 办法 Object
The original plan won’t work, we’ll have to think of another way (另外 before the verb 想).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 另外 connects whole sentences, not two items inside one clause. Two activities after 喜欢 are joined with 和, the noun-glue: 我喜欢游泳和跑步. 另外 would have to open a separate sentence instead, never sit between the two nouns.
Why it happens: As an adverb meaning “another / separately,” 另外 sits before the verb, not after it: 我们另外约时间吧 (“let’s set another time”), not 我们约时间另外吧.
Why it happens: As a connector, 另外 leads the added point at the front of the new sentence. It can’t trail at the end the way English can tack on “…, besides”: 另外，我不太喜欢它的设计, not 我不太喜欢它的设计另外.
Compare & contrast
| 另外 (raises a separate extra point, “besides”; also “another / separately” before a verb) | 还有 (tacks one more item onto the same list, “and also”) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 这个菜很辣。另外，也不太新鲜。zhège cài hěn là. lìngwài, yě bú tài xīnxiān. | 我要这个菜，还有一碗汤。wǒ yào zhège cài, háiyǒu yì wǎn tāng. | 这个菜很辣。另外，也不太新鲜 raises a second, separate point: “this dish is spicy; besides, it’s not very fresh either.” 我要这个菜，还有一碗汤 just adds one more item to the same order: “I’ll have this dish, and also a bowl of soup.” |
| 我们另外找个地方吧。wǒmen lìngwài zhǎo gè dìfang ba. | 桌上有水果，还有蛋糕。zhuō shàng yǒu shuǐguǒ, háiyǒu dàngāo. | 我们另外找个地方吧 is the adverb “another / separately”: “let’s find a different place.” 桌上有水果，还有蛋糕 tacks another item onto the list: “there’s fruit on the table, and also cake.” |
Try it yourself
Say “Let’s set another time.” Use 另外 before the verb to mean “another / separately.”
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Besides” with 另外 (lìngwài) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.