Expressing "in addition" with "lingwai"

另外 (lìngwài) can be used to express "in addition" or "besides," and is often followed by 还 (hái) or 也 (yě).

Using as a Conjunction

As a conjunction, 另外 can link two sentences.

Structure

⋯⋯ ，另外 ，⋯⋯

Note that 还 or 也 is often used after 另外.

Examples

• 这个 课文 太 难 了 ，我 不 想 学 。另外 ，我 也 没 准备 。Zhège kèwén tài nán le, wǒ bù xiǎng xué. Lìngwài, wǒ yě méi zhǔnbèi.This lesson is too difficult and I don't want to read it. Besides, I didn't prepare for it.
• 希望 你 不要 再 迟到 了 。另外，你 应该 穿 得 正式 一 点 。Xīwàng nǐ bùyào zài chídào le. Lìngwài, nǐ yīnggāi chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.I hope you won't be late again. In addition, you should also dress a little more formally for work.
• 这个 航班 经常 晚点 。另外 ，他们 的 飞机 餐 也 很 难吃 。Zhège hángbān jīngcháng wǎndiǎn. Lìngwài, tāmen de fēijī cān yě hěn nánchī.This flight is always delayed. In addition, their meal set is terrible.
• 我 没 时间 参加 这个 活动 。另外 ，我 也 不 太 感 兴趣 。Wǒ méi shíjiān cānjiā zhège huódòng. Lìngwài, wǒ yě bù tài gǎn xìngqù.I don't have time to attend this activity. Besides, I'm not really interested.
• 幼儿园 提供 午餐 。另外 ，每天 下午 还 有 点心 和 水果 。Yòuéryuán tígōng wǔcān. Lìngwài, měi tiān xiàwǔ hái yǒu diǎnxin hé shuǐguǒ.The kindergarten provides lunch. In addition, there are deserts and fruits every afternoon.

Used as an Adverb

As an adverb, 另外 adds the meaning of "additionally" (although that's probably not going to be the most natural English translation for most sentences).

Structure

另外 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 今天 我 没 空 ，能 不 能 另外 安排 时间 ？Jīntiān wǒ méi kòng, néng bu néng lìngwài ānpái shíjiān?I don't have time today. Can you schedule it another time?
• 在 我家 开会 不 方便 ，我们 另外 找 地方 吧 。Zài wǒ jiā kāi huì bù fāngbiàn, wǒmen lìngwài zhǎo dìfang ba.It's not very convenient to have this meeting at my place. Let's find some other place.
• 这个 项目 他们 做 不 好 ，我 建议 你们 另外 找 人 来 做 。Zhège xiàngmù tāmen zuò bu hǎo, wǒ jiànyì nǐmen lìngwài zhǎo rén lái zuò.They can't accomplish this project. I suggest you find some other people to do it.
• 这里 是 VIP 室 ，要 另外 付费 才 能 用 。Zhèlǐ shì VIP shì, yào lìngwài fùfèi cái néng yòng.This is the VIP room. You will have to pay more in order to use it.
• 如果 学生 觉得 不 难 ，老师 可以 另外 加 一些 学习 内容 。Rúguǒ xuéshēng juéde bù nán, lǎoshī kěyǐ lìngwài jiā yīxiē xuéxí nèiróng.If the students don't find the lesson difficult, the teacher can add more learning materials.

See also

• Expressing "in addition" with "haiyou"
• "In addition" with "zaishuo"
• Expressing "not only… but also"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) (pp. 196) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 155-6) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy