另 vs 另外

另 and 另外 both can mean "another," "other," or "in addition," but they differ in grammatical usage, formality, and flexibility. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. 另 (lìng) – "Another" (Formal, Concise)

• Meaning:
  • Refers to a separate or additional person/thing.
  • Often used in formal or written Chinese.
• Usage Rules:
  • Must be followed by a measure word (量词) + noun (e.g., 另一个, 另一个人).
  • Cannot stand alone (e.g., ❌ "另的" is incorrect).
  • Rarely used in spoken Chinese (sounds literary).
• Key Idea: Focuses on one specific alternative.

Examples:

✅ 请给我另一个杯子。 (Qǐng gěi wǒ lìng yī gè bēizi.) – "Please give me another cup."

✅ 他去了另一家公司。 (Tā qùle lìng yī jiā gōngsī.) – "He went to another company."

✅ 我们需要另想办法。 (Wǒmen xūyào lìng xiǎng bànfǎ.) – "We need to think of another way."

2. 另外 (lìngwài) – "Other / In Addition" (Flexible, Common)

• Meaning:
  • Refers to additional things/people outside a mentioned category.
  • Can mean "besides," "separately," or "moreover."
• Usage Rules:
  • Can be used alone (e.g., 另外的, 另外还有).
  • No need for measure words (but can use them: 另外一个).
  • Common in spoken and written Chinese.
• Key Idea: Broader scope than 另, often implying extra options.

Examples:

✅ 这些是给我的，另外的给你。 (Zhèxiē shì gěi wǒ de, lìngwài de gěi nǐ.) – "These are for me; the others are for you."

✅ 他买了书，另外还买了笔。 (Tā mǎile shū, lìngwài hái mǎile bǐ.) – "He bought books and, in addition, pens." 

✅ 我们住这里，另外两个房间空着。 (Wǒmen zhù zhèlǐ, lìngwài liǎng gè fángjiān kōngzhe.) – "We live here; the other two rooms are empty."

Comparison Table

Key Differences

Grammatical Structure:

• 另 must pair with a measure word (e.g., 另一个).
• 另外 can stand alone (e.g., 另外的).

Formality:

• 另 → Formal/written (e.g., contracts, reports).
• 另外 → Neutral (spoken/written).

Meaning Nuance:

• 另 → Focuses on one specific alternative.
• 另外 → Emphasizes additional things (can be plural).

When to Use Which?

Use 另 when:

• Writing formally (e.g., "另请高明" – "Find someone else").
• Referring to a single alternative (e.g., 另一个选择).

Use 另外 when:

• Speaking casually (e.g., "另外，我还想说…" – "Additionally, I want to say…").
• Listing multiple extras (e.g., 另外两个人).

Advanced Notes

• 另 can mean "separately" in classical Chinese (e.g., "另当别论" – "That’s another matter").
• 另外 can be a conjunction (e.g., "另外，请注意…" – "Also, please note…").

Summary

• 另 (lìng) → Formal, single alternative (必须 + 量词).
• 另外 (lìngwài) → Flexible, additional things (可单独用).

Example Contrast:

1. Formal: "请提交另一份报告。" (Qǐng tíjiāo lìng yī fèn bàogào.) – "Please submit another report."
2. Neutral: "另外，还有一件事。" (Lìngwài, hái yǒu yī jiàn shì.) – "Also, there’s one more thing."